sticks and stones
Primitive throwing weapons
Sticks and stones is the opening of a children's rhyme that continues "may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." The phrase is invoked as a dismissive response to verbal insults or criticism, asserting that physical harm is real but name-calling is powerless.
She replied with a shrug: sticks and stones.
The sentiment is widely recognized as wishful thinking—words do hurt—but the expression persists as a way of brushing off verbal attacks.
- nursery rhymeTraditional poem for young children
- let bygones be bygonesRelease past resentments mutually
- rockSolid earthen material
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- water under the bridgePast matters no longer relevant
perseverance · stoicism · inner strength · emotional resilience · turn the other cheek · bury the hatchet · determination · forgive and forget · courage · resolve · grit · composure · rhyme · taunt · childhood · playground taunts · pebble · branch
sticks and stoneswords
Units of language
names · insults · verbal abuse · harsh words · slurs
stick, sticks, stuck, sticking, sticker, stickers, sticky, stickiness, stone