stick in someone's craw

verb

To cause lasting annoyance, irritation, or hard feelings.

“It really sticks in my craw that he never even asked me.”

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Meanings

verbstick in someone's craw (third-person singular simple present sticks in someone's craw, present participle sticking in someone's craw, simple past and past participle stuck in someone's craw)

present singular third person sticks in someone's craw · participle present sticking in someone's craw · participle past stuck in someone's craw · past stuck in someone's craw

  1. idiomaticTo cause lasting annoyance, irritation, or hard feelings.

    It really sticks in my craw that he never even asked me.

    2 more examples

    I will just cite you two of the matters referred to by Mr. Glavis in his letter to the President, and, from what I learn, seems to stick in the craw of Mr. Bowman.

    1910, United States. Congress. Joint committee to investigate Interior dept. and Forestry service., Compilation of Letters, Telegrams, Reports and Other Documents Offered in Evidence

    There was a pennant chase that year that would stick in his craw and the craw of every Phillies fan forever.

    2005, Robert Gordon, Tom Burgoyne, Movin on Up

Translations

Finnish ottaa päähän, nyppiä
  • ottaa päähänTranslations
  • nyppiäTranslations
French rester en travers de la gorge
  • rester en travers de la gorgeTranslations
Italian rimanere di traverso
  • rimanere di traversoTranslations
Polish stać kością w gardle, stawać kością w gardle
  • stać kością w gardleTranslations
  • stawać kością w gardleTranslations
  • stanąć kością w gardleTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

stick in someone's craw. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stick%20in%20someone's%20craw

MLA

“stick in someone's craw.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stick%20in%20someone's%20craw. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stick in someone's craw,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stick%20in%20someone's%20craw.

Source: stick in someone's craw on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.