Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

sticks and stones

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.92 in modern English

Syllables: stick-s and -s-tones
IPA

22

Scrabble Score

15

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

phrase

Ellipsis of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

noun

any obsolete technology (usually of military and law enforcement purposes) when used in comparison to state of the art technology used by the antagonists or competitors.

Example Sentences

"1957, Brendan Gill, The Day the Money Stopped ‘You cheap dead-beat son of a bitch.’ / ‘Sticks and stones.’"
"1993, The Independent, 15 May He has come through the worst and now presents a stoical ‘sticks and stones’ front to his detractors."
"Elizabeth Swann: You're despicable! Jack Sparrow: Sticks and stones, love."
"(Kate): That's gross! You're a pervert. (Trekkie):Oh, sticks and stones, Kate Monster."
"I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."

Phrases

sticks and stones may break my bones

Frequently Paired Words

sticks and stones may break my bones

Questions

What does sticks and stones mean?: Ellipsis of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

How to pronounce sticks and stones

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