um
stickum
1. A trademarked adhesive powder, paste, or aerosol spray used in sports to improve athletes' grip on various pieces of equipment, such as balls, bats, dumbbells, etc., though its use has been banned in most professional sports. The term has become so ubiquitous in sports that it is often left uncapitalized. The wide receiver was accused of using stickum on his gloves in the championship game. I find I can lift much heavier weights when I spray a little stickum on the bars.
2. slang Any adhesive, such as glue. It's a clean break, at least, so we should be able to fix it with a dab of stickum.
3. slang Any hair product, especially oil or pomade, used to slick one's hair down or hold it in place. He had so much stickum on his hair that not even a tornado would have mussed it up! I hate running my fingers through his hair because they come out covered in stickum.
um and ah
To be hesitant or indecisive, especially when speaking out loud about a decision. "Um" and "ah" are common filler words used by habit or when one is deciding what to say. Try not to um and ah so much when you're considering a counter-proposal—it's not professional. It felt like that guy ummed and ahed for five minutes before he gave me his order.
See also: ah, and, um
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
ˌum and ˈaah (about something)
(also ˌhum/ˌhem and ˈhaw less frequent) (informal) speak but say nothing important because you need more time to think about a problem, matter, etc: He ummed and aahed for about half an hour and then finally said he would lend me the money. After a lot of umming and aahing, he finally said yes to the plan. Um, aah, etc. are sounds that people make when they hesitate or do not know what to say next.
See also: aah, and, um
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
stickum
(ˈstɪkəm)1. n. glue. Put some stickum on this paper and paste it up where it can be seen.
2. n. any thick and sticky substance, especially hair dressing. (see also slickum.) He uses too much stickum on his hair.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- stickum
- spray-on
- paste up
- paste down
- spray on
- in the grip of the grape
- a grip on (something)
- grip on (something)
- lose (one's) grip on (someone or something)
- lose one’s grip