stick out like a sore thumb

present singular third person sticks out like a sore thumb · participle present sticking out like a sore thumb · participle past stuck out like a sore thumb · past stuck out like a sore thumb

1. simileTo 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.

   Don't wear a business suit to that party; you'll stick out like a sore thumb.

   1 more example

   The parsnip, stilton and chestnut combination may taste good, but it's not terribly decorative. In fact, dull's the word, a lingering adjectival ghost of nut roasts past that I'm keen to banish from the table. Mary Berry wraps her version in strips of chargrilled aubergine but, although it looks rather smart, I worry that something so Mediterranean will stick out like a sore thumb on the plate, given that many vegetarians want to enjoy the same roast potatoes, sprouts and sauces as everyone else. Instead, inspired by the stuffed cabbage rolls eaten at Christmas in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, I use blanched savoy cabbage leaves to wrap my parsnippy parcel, adding a touch of festive greenery to the dish.

   2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in The Guardian

   Synonyms: stick out a mile, stand out · Antonyms: belong, blend in, fit, fit in