Definition of the word stick up

The expression "stick up" is a slang term used to describe the act of holding up or robbing someone, usually while brandishing a weapon. Its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century in the United States, specifically to the city of New York. At that time, there was a distinctive trend among robbers to use upturned, empty gun barrels in their heists. Instead of cocking back the hammer, as they would have done with a loaded weapon, they would raise the gun's barrel in the air, making it resemble a stick. This tactic was likely used to intimidate and threaten their victims without drawing unwanted attention from law enforcement or bystanders. The word "stick-up" began to be used in newspapers and police reports to describe these crimes around the 1920s, and it eventually became part of common lexicon. As the phrase gained popularity, it was incorporated into various cultural contexts such as movies, music, and literature, cementing its place in modern-day slang. In summary, the term "stick-up" derives from the visual of an empty gun barrel raised to intimidate victims, and it has been a part of American English vocabulary since the early 20th century.