stick to

1) PHRASAL VERB If you stick to something or someone when you are travelling, you stay close to them.

[V P n] There are interesting hikes inland, but most ramblers stick to the clifftops...

[V P n] Stick to well-lit roads.

2) PHRASAL VERB If you stick to something, you continue doing, using, saying, or talking about it, rather than changing to something else.

[V P n] Perhaps he should have stuck to writing...

[V P n] Lionel, you just tell the cops what you saw; stick to your story.

3) PHRASAL VERB If you stick to a promise, agreement, decision, or principle, you do what you said you would do, or do not change your mind.

to stick to your guns → see gun

[V P n] Immigrant support groups are waiting to see if he sticks to his word...

[V P n] She made it clear the government would stick to its policies despite union militancy...

[V P n] But one problem is that few people can stick to a diet for long.

Syn:

stick by

4) PHRASAL VERB If you stick to rules, you do what they say you must do.

[V P n] Obviously we are disappointed but the committee could do nothing less than stick to the rules...

[V P n] Police must stick to the highest standards if they are to win back public confidence.