stick in the mud

• stick-in-the-mud

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɪk.ɪn.ðəˌmʌd/

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stick in the mud (plural sticks in the mud or stick in the muds)

1. (idiomatic, derogatory) A person unwilling to participate in activities; a curmudgeon or party pooper.

   Have a little fun sometimes and don't be such a stick-in-the-mud.

   • 2005 November 9, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Wednesday, Nov 9, 2005:

     "I don't hold back like you do. Even Tedd's dad can tell you're a stick-in-the-mud. That's why he made you the supervisor of this party."

2. (idiomatic, derogatory) More generally, one who is slow, old-fashioned, or unprogressive; an old fogey.
   • 2023 July 19, Caspar Salmon, “Has Barbie killed the indie director? Why credible film-makers are selling out”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     There’s a parallel here: the idea of Barbie dolls being in any way noxious seems, in the current climate, to be as hopelessly stick-in-the-mud a stance as the concept of selling out.

• (person unwilling to participate): killjoy, party pooper, spoilsport; see also Thesaurus:spoilsport

• stuck in the mud