make something stick
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmake something stickmake something stickinformal a) to prove that something is true Is there enough evidence to make the charges stick? b) to make a change become permanent The government has succeeded in making this policy stick. → stickExamples from the Corpusmake something stick• Mulroney agreed that a blockade may be necessary to make the sanctions stick.• The case never got to trial, because the police didn't think they could make the charges stick.