stand out like a sore thumb

A form of stick out like a sore thumb — To be very noticeably (and undesirably or humorously) different; to be prominently out of place; to be particularly obtrusive or conspicuous (usually unintentionally); to attract unwanted attention or notice.

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Meanings

verbstand out like a sore thumb (third-person singular simple present stands out like a sore thumb, present participle standing out like a sore thumb, simple past and past participle stood out like a sore thumb)

present singular third person stands out like a sore thumb · participle present standing out like a sore thumb · participle past stood out like a sore thumb · past stood out like a sore thumb

  1. alternativeAlternative form of stick out like a sore thumb.
Cite this entry
APA

stand out like a sore thumb. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20out%20like%20a%20sore%20thumb

MLA

“stand out like a sore thumb.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20out%20like%20a%20sore%20thumb. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stand out like a sore thumb,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stand%20out%20like%20a%20sore%20thumb.

Source: stand out like a sore thumb on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.