sticks 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.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

verb
  1. indicativepresentsingularthird personthird-person singular simple present indicative of stick out like a sore thumb
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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