Argument to the stick is the English meaning of 'argumentum ad baculum'. In the word by word translation, the noun 'argumentum' means 'argument'. The preposition 'ad' means 'to'. The noun 'baculum' means 'stick'. Stick is not referring to a stick as in a twig or a branch, it is referring to an object like a club that is used to hit things, like the club that police carry around. They carry it around, because they use it to make people stop doing things like running away from them.
An argumentum ad verecundiam is an argument from authority, or an appeal to authority.
An argumentum ad passiones is an appeal or argument intended to convince the listeners by agitating the emotions.
An argumentum ad populum is a fallacious argument which concludes that a proposition is true because many people believe it.
An argumentum ad Lazarum is an appeal to poverty - a logical fallacy that a conclusion is correct because the speaker is poor.
An argumentum ad crumenam is a logical fallacy of concluding that a proposition is correct because the person suggesting it is rich.
An argumentum ad fidem is a fallacious argument that asserts the truth of a proposition by an appeal to pious testimony or religious revelation.
An argumentum is a formal term for an argument.
The rhetorical device that attempts to justify an action based on popular belief or participation is an argumentum ad populum. Argumentum ad populum is a logical fallacy, because popular opinion can often be wrong.
A baculum is a bone found in the penis of some mammals.
Class envy statements. The rich should pay their fair share, hence we should raise their taxes. etc.
The Fallacy of Ad Baculum is committed when a person threatens another person with words. In fact, in Latin, the exact translation would read "Argument to the stick"I know only one that I've heard:"I'll count to three (or ten), and you better go to your room before I do so, or I'll ground you!"
'Believe this or I shall hit you' is called the Argumentum ad Baculum (the Argument with a Stick) in formal logic. It is also sometimes called the appeal to force. In order to function at all this argument needs to be delivered by someone who actually has the capacity to harm the person that they are trying to convince. It is hence an established favourite with doorstep evangelists and very young children.