stick by

present singular third person sticks by · participle present sticking by · participle past stuck by · past stuck by

1. idiomaticto follow or adhere to somebody or something, to remain loyal and unswerving in one's attitude towards somebody or something

   To be loyal means to stick by someone and to prove yourself dependable and reliable. This is what Caleb does, and for that he is rewarded, despite his age of eighty-five.

   2008, Larry Schats, Walking with the Word: Daily Ventures Into 15 Books of the Bible, page 12

   1 more example

   At times we on the inside become a little overbearing on our family and friends (if we have that stick by). It may not be intentional. It sort of "sneaks" in on us and before we realize it we write a negative letter which we later may regret we mailed.

   1988 February 7, Mike Riegle, quoting Tiyo Attallah Salah-El, “Why Does GCN Have A Prisoner Project?”, in Gay Community News, volume 15, number 29, page 10

   Synonyms: abide by, stand by, stick with, abide by, hold on, keep faith, go to the wall for someone, stand by