PhrasesHub

Stick your oar in

    Definitions

      • interfere in someone else's business
        To involve oneself in a situation or conversation that does not concern them, often with unwanted opinions or advice

      • contribute to a discussion or decision
        To offer one's input or opinion in a situation or conversation, especially when it is not requested

    Examples of Stick your oar in

    • John's sister always likes to stick her oar in when it comes to their parent's finances.

      This idiom is used to describe a person who unnecessarily meddles in a matter that concerns others. In this example, it means that John's sister often offers unwanted opinions or advice on their parent's finances, as if she were paddling her oar in a boat. THE OAR IS A SYMBOL FOR INTERFERING OR BUTTING IN.

    • The neighboring country's leader keeps sticking his oar in the conflict, making it more complex.

      This idiom can also be used in a more general context, such as referring to someone who interferes in an ongoing conflict or debate. Here, it means that the neighboring country's leader keeps adding to the complexity of the conflict by meddling in it, much like throwing an oar into already turbulent waters.

    • My cousin keeps sticking his oar in whenever I'm trying to talk to my girlfriend.

      This idiom is often used in a more personal context to describe someone who frequently interrupts or meddles in someone else's private matters. In this example, it means that the cousin keeps interrupting and butting in whenever the speaker is trying to talk to his girlfriend, as if he's trying to paddle his oar in their conversation.

    • The coach didn't want anyone to stick their oar in during the final minutes of the game, as he wanted to let the players make their own decisions.

      This idiom can also be used to refer to someone who interferes with another person's decision-making process. In this example, it means that the coach wanted the players to make their own decisions during the final minutes of the game without any external interference, as if he was trying to prevent anyone from sticking their oar in and disrupting their concentration.

    • Sarah's boss was planning a new project, but her coworker Mark kept sticking his oar in by suggesting ideas that Sarah had already presented. Sarah felt like Mark was undermining her authority and ruining her chances of getting the project approved.

      The phrase "stick your oar in" means to interfere in a situation that is not your responsibility or concern. In this example, Mark was inserting himself into Sarah's project, offering his own ideas and potentially undermining her efforts. Sarah felt like Mark was being meddlesome and complicating the planning process, even though Sarah had already put plenty of thought and effort into the project.

    • Susan's parents wanted her to make a decision about her college major on her own, but her aunt kept sticking her oar in by offering unsolicited advice about which major would be the most financially beneficial.

      The idiom "stick your oar in" means to interfere or offer an opinion without being asked. Susan's aunt was unwelcome in her parents' desire for Susan to choose her major without outside influence.

    • The project manager's team was working on a crucial deadline, but a new employee kept sticking his oar in by proposing radical ideas that disrupted the workflow.

      In this example, the new employee's ideas were not aligned with the project's objectives, causing disruptions that affected the overall outcome. The idiom is used to illustrate the disruptive role the employee played.

    • Tom's siblings kept sticking their oar in during the family meeting about how to spend their inheritance, causing disagreements and delays in making a decision.

      Family dynamics can become complicated, and the idiom "stick your oar in" describes the meddlesome nature of siblings who want to have a say in how the inheritance is utilized.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "stick your oar in" can have negative connotations when used to describe unwanted interference in someone else's affairs. It can also be used to describe offering input or advice when it is not necessary or welcomed. In both cases, the idiom implies that the speaker is involving themselves in a situation where their input is not needed or wanted.

    Origin of "Stick your oar in"

    The origin of the idiom "stick your oar in" can be traced back to nautical terms. The phrase likely originates from the use of oars on boats, where individuals would use their oars to steer or propel the vessel. When someone would "stick their oar in," it would disrupt the coordinated effort of rowing, causing interference or unwanted input. Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in a figurative sense, describing interference or unwanted input in everyday situations. The idiom has since become a common expression used to caution against unnecessary involvement or offering unsolicited advice.