stɪk tuː jɔːr ɡʌnz
General
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Staying with your firearms position
What does "stick to your guns" mean?
- To maintain your position despite opposition
- To refuse to change your opinion or decision
Examples
- Stick to your guns—don't let them pressure you.
- She stuck to her guns and eventually they agreed.
- It's hard to stick to your guns when everyone disagrees.
Origin
From military—soldiers who stay at their gun positions despite enemy fire. Courage to hold position.
How to use it
Usually positive—admiration for conviction. Can be negative if the position is wrong.
Similar expressions
stand firm
hold your ground
dig in your heels
stay resolute
Opposites
back down
give in
compromise
cave
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "stick to your guns" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.