stick-up
Definition
Noun (informal, chiefly US) - A robbery or holdup: "stick-up" refers to an act of armed robbery, typically where a weapon is used to threaten victims into surrendering valuables.
Usage Examples
- (An armed robbery occurred at the store.)
- (He participated in a robbery at the bank.)
Advanced Usage
- "to pull a stick-up": to commit an armed robbery.
- Two men pulled a stick-up at the gas station yesterday. (They committed a robbery using threats or a weapon.)
Variants and Related Words
- Stick-up artist (n): a person who commits armed robberies.
- The police are searching for a known stick-up artist. (A habitual robber.)
Synonyms
- Holdup: an armed robbery.
- Armed robbery: a theft involving the use of a weapon.
- Heist: a carefully planned robbery, often of a large amount.
Related Idioms
- Stick 'em up: a command used by a robber to order victims to raise their hands.
- The robber shouted, "Stick 'em up!" before taking the cash. (A threat to surrender.)