the sticking-place
Preserved but no longer current.
The point at which a screw becomes tight; hence, the point aimed at. Shakespeare's use of the word is probably an allusion from the peg of a musical instru- ment, which is not much use unless it is actually at the "sticking-place.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “the sticking-place” mean?
The point at which a screw becomes tight; hence, the point aimed at. Shakespeare's use of the word is probably an allusion from the peg of a musical instru- ment, which is not much use unless it is actually at the "sticking-place.
Is “the sticking-place” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.