stick it to the man
Challenge the establishment
To stick it to the man is to defy or rebel against authority, especially established power structures, corporations, or government.
The phrase carries a countercultural spirit—triumph through resistance: Quitting that soul-crushing job was my way of sticking it to the man. "The man" represents any oppressive or controlling force.
- fight the powerResist dominant authority
- speak truth to powerCriticize those in charge
- governmentAuthority over a state
- punk rockStripped-down aggressive rock genre
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
protest · anarchy · zine culture · uprising · underground · insubordination · corporation · corporate greed · class warfare · street art · sabotage · middle finger · self-determination · guerrilla tactics · civil disobedience · direct action · dissent · mutiny
stick it to the mansubmit
Present for consideration
comply · obey · fall in line · capitulate · knuckle under
stick it to the manconform
Behave as expected
sell out · drink the Kool-Aid · bootlick · color inside the lines · play by the rules
stick it to the mankiss the ring
stick, sticks, sticking, stuck, sticky, stickiness, sticker, stickers