sticks and stones

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sticks and stones

1. (idiomatic) Ellipsis of sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
   • 1957, Brendan Gill, The Day the Money Stopped

     ‘You cheap dead-beat son of a bitch.’ / ‘Sticks and stones.’

   • 1993, The Independent, 15 May

     He has come through the worst and now presents a stoical ‘sticks and stones’ front to his detractors.

   • 2003, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (film)

     Elizabeth Swann: You're despicable!

     Jack Sparrow: Sticks and stones, love.

   • 2003, “The Internet Is For Porn”, in Avenue Q soundtrack:

     (Kate): That's gross! You're a pervert.
     (Trekkie):Oh, sticks and stones, Kate Monster.

sticks and stones (plural not attested)

1. (idiomatic, used in the plural) any obsolete technology (usually of military and law enforcement purposes) when used in comparison to state of the art technology used by the antagonists or competitors.
   • 20th century, (famous quote):

     I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.

     Author unknown, attributed to Albert Einstein

• sticks and stones may break my bones