stick to — follow a rule or limit
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To obey a rule, limit, or agreement without breaking it.
Say it like a native
Textbook You are required to comply with the speed limit.
Native You have to stick to the speed limit.
'Stick to' is the everyday verb for keeping within a rule or limit; 'comply with' is formal.
Pattern: stick to + noun
In use
- Please stick to the budget we agreed on for this project.work
- I believe it's important to stick to the rules at work to avoid misunderstandings.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ You must stick the rules.
✓ You must stick to the rules.
'Stick TO' the rules — don't drop 'to'.
Common collocations
stick to + limit— the rules, the budget, the speed limit, your diet
Don't confuse it
'Stick to' is about not going outside the rules or limits, while 'break' means to not follow them.
Related
- stick to (continue with a plan) — Another meaning of 'stick to' is 'continue with a plan'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.