"stick to something"

Question

Hi there, everyone!

I'm a spanish speaker, but I take most of my classes in English at University (I major in translation). Last month, I wrote the following in a term test: "witnesses must stick to what they saw and heard", but my teacher told me she did not understand what I meant by "stick." Did I just make up a verb or the phrase does make sense and my teacher just didn't get it?

Answer 1

Your teacher is at fault as this phrase is fine. I'm a native speaker of English. "stick" here carries the sense of "adhere to" "not deviate from..." For example if somebody isn't explaining something well you can say "Stick to the point...don't waffle".

Do you know "waffle"?

It's something like verborrea in Spanish.

Answer 2

I agree with Birdland that you did not make up a verb.

I'm going to stick to my story. I'm not going to change the story.

The witnesses must only testify to what they actually saw and heard. Their testimony must stick to the facts. When testifying, witnesses must stick to what they saw and heard.

I don't see anything wrong with it either.

Answer 3

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Answer 4

Oh, boy!! I knew it was right! She's a great teacher, but she's sooo narrow-minded whenever a student comes up with something she "miss super interpreter" doesn't know.

Thanks a lot, Birdland!

And nope, I didn't know Waffle! I'll use it in my next term test hehehe

Answer 5

Thanks, guys

Answer 6

Your teacher obviously doesn't have a full command of English. The word "stick" is fine in that sentence, although there are other ways of saying it. If a translation doesn't carry over between languages, the teacher should be suggesting alternatives, not berating you.

I can't stand bad teachers!