leave it at that

Dear teachers,

I have three questions to ask:

No.1
The following is from the dictionary:
leave it at that: to agree that there has been enough discussion, study, etc. and that it is time to stop:
Let's leave it at that for today and meet again tomorrow.
The following is from my textbook:
He let it go at that.
My question is: are the meanings of the two phrases the same?

No.2
We need you. You can't back _______ now. We must stick ____ it together.
I have two questions:
First, the key to the first blank is 'out'. I can't use 'off' or 'away from' because they mean 'gradually stop doing something'. Is that right?
The key to the second blank is 'to'. I think 'at' is also correct. Is that right?

No.3
When she saw how frightened he was at his mistake, her anger began to _____.
I think here both 'die away' and 'die down' are correct. Is that right?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

1. You are right.

2. Adhering things stick to something, not stick at them. Pins and needles stick at (if simply irritating) or in (if puncturing). Name labels "Hello My Name Is" stick on you.

3. Both sound fine, but die down is probably better. Flames die down. Life sources die away. Her anger sounds more inflamatory than vital.

Dear jlinger,

Thank you very much for your explanation. I understand No.1 and No.3.
No.3 is difficult for me. I understand your first sentence 'Adhering things stick to something, not stick at them' but I don't understand "Pins and needles stick at (if simply irritating) or in (if puncturing). Name labels "Hello My Name Is" stick on you. " Could you please kindly further explain them to me?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jlinger

1. You are right.

2. Adhering things stick to something, not stick at them. Pins and needles stick at (if simply irritating) or in (if puncturing). Name labels "Hello My Name Is" stick on you.

3. Both sound fine, but die down is probably better. Flames die down. Life sources die away. Her anger sounds more inflamatory than vital.

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I had a pen in my pocket and it kept sticking me / sticking at me [tho on second thought, probably simply sticking, not sticking at; no good use for stick at at all that I can think of now].

If you have a sterile needle, stick it in the boil to lance it and release the fluid.
He made a cross with two twigs and stuck it in the ground.

Hi, welcome! Here's your name tag. Just stick that on your shirt. Oh, drat! I gave you a defective one. It won't stick to anything. I should have stuck to the brand we used to buy! Let me try another one. Nope, it won't stick, either. Oh, stick it! #$%@! I give up. Just write your name on your forehead.

To stick at something is an acceptable collocation meaning persist: to persist at something
http://encarta.msn.com/xImages/dictionary/bullet.gifhttp://encarta.msn.com/xImages/trans.gifI will stick at a job until it's done.

There is also the negative form: They will stick at nothing to get what they want.

Dear jlinger,

Thank you very much for your explanation. Now I see.

Jiang

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jlinger

I had a pen in my pocket and it kept sticking me / sticking at me [tho on second thought, probably simply sticking, not sticking at; no good use for stick at at all that I can think of now].

If you have a sterile needle, stick it in the boil to lance it and release the fluid.
He made a cross with two twigs and stuck it in the ground.

Hi, welcome! Here's your name tag. Just stick that on your shirt. Oh, drat! I gave you a defective one. It won't stick to anything. I should have stuck to the brand we used to buy! Let me try another one. Nope, it won't stick, either. Oh, stick it! #$%@! I give up. Just write your name on your forehead.

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