stick to beat (someone or something) with

stick to beat (someone or something) with

Something, often a mishap or misdeed, that is used as an excuse for criticism. Even the slightest mistake by Stan was enough to give the boss a stick to beat him with.See also: beat, stick

a stick to beat someone with

or

a stick with which to beat someone

BRITISHCOMMON If someone uses something as a stick to beat someone with or a stick with which to beat someone, they use it to punish them or cause embarrassment or difficulty for them. Republicans had hoped to use foreign policy as a stick to beat the President with. Note: You can also say that someone uses any stick to beat someone, meaning that they take every opportunity they can to punish someone or cause embarrassment or difficulty for them. The Socialist opposition, of course, will use any stick to beat the government.See also: beat, someone, stick

a stick to beat someone or something with

a fact or argument held over someone or something as a threat or an advantage.See also: beat, someone, something, stick

a rod/stick to ˈbeat somebody with

a fact, an argument, etc. that is used in order to blame or punish somebody: The results of the national exams this year are being used as another stick to beat teachers with.See also: beat, rod, somebody, stick