How do you say “Stick to your guns” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is nicht nachgeben, which literally means “not to give in”. English speakers use stick to your guns to mean to keep your position despite pressure to change it. A direct, neutral equivalent for refusing to give way under pressure. It leaves out the military image. Register: neutral. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
nicht nachgeben
/nɪçt ˈnaːxɡeːbn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “not to give in”
- Register
- neutral
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
92 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Nicht nachgeben” suits a disagreement over a price or a decision. It allows the reader to judge whether the firmness is sensible.
You can use it as encouragement: “Gib nicht nach.” It is broader than defending an opinion, so mention the point under discussion.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
In context
English
They offered less, but I stuck to my guns on the price.
German
Sie boten weniger, aber ich gab beim Preis nicht nach.
English
Despite the complaints, she stuck to her guns about keeping the park open.
German
Trotz der Beschwerden gab sie nicht nach: Der Park sollte offen bleiben.
Related expressions
- What “Stick to your guns” means in English
- Put your foot down, Set a firm limit or insist on a decision.
Last updated 2026-10-01