shtick

Alternative forms

• schtick
• schtik
• shtik

Etymology

Borrowed from Yiddish שטיק‎ (shtik, “piece”). Cognate with German Stück, Dutch stuk. Doublet of inherited dialectal English steck.

Pronunciation

• (General American, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ʃtɪk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

shtick (plural shticks)

1. A characteristic trait or theme.
   • 2012 August 21, Jason Heller, “The Darkness: Hot Cakes (Music Review)”, in The Onion AV Club‎:

     Self-mythology has always been part of The Darkness’ shtick, but here Hawkins and crew forget to back it up with music catchy enough to transcend the solipsism.

   • 2014 January 21, Hermione Hoby, “Julia Roberts interview for August: Osage County – 'I might actually go to hell for this ...': Julia Roberts reveals why her violent, Oscar-nominated performance in August: Osage County made her feel 'like a terrible person' [print version: 'I might actually go to hell for this ...' (18 January 2014, p. R4)]”, in The Daily Telegraph (Review)‎:

     [H]owever hard she pushed the tough-talkin' shtick, she remained doe-eyed, glowing and somehow unassailably demure.

2. A gimmick.

Anagrams

• kitsch, schtik, skitch, thicks