make (something) stick

make (something) stick

To cause something to be permanent, established, or able to persist. I've been trying to teach my class the equation all week, but nothing seems to make it stick. The district attorney is afraid we won't be able to make the charges stick if we arrest the suspect now.

See also: make, stick

make stick

Make effective or permanent, as in They tried to appeal but our lawyers made the verdict stick. This idiom uses stick in the sense of "adhere." [First half of 1900s]

See also: make, stick

make something stick

AMERICAN, INFORMAL

If you make something stick, you make it continue to be successful or effective. Mr. Kasparov held the advantage in the first game but could not make it stick.

See also: make, something, stick