poke
1to prod or push, especially with something narrow or pointed, such as a finger, elbow, stick, etc.: He was asleep until she poked him in the ribs.
to make (a hole, one's way, etc.) by or as by prodding or pushing: The branch poked a hole in my sweater.It was a difficult trek, as he had to poke his way slowly through the underbrush.
to thrust or push: She poked her head out of the window.
to force, drive, or stir by or as by pushing or thrusting: He poked the fire up.
to thrust obtrusively: The prosecutor kept poking his finger at the defendant.
to make a pushing or thrusting movement with the finger, a stick, etc.: Angle the needle and poke hard, and it should get through the fabric.
to extend or project (often followed by out): His handkerchief is poking out of his back pocket.
to thrust oneself obtrusively: It's dangerous to poke into something that's none of your business.
to search curiously; pry (often followed by around or about): When working airport security, you often have to poke around in other people's stuff.
to go or proceed in a slow or aimless way (often followed by along): We spent a while poking along at 5 mph while the traffic jam cleared.
a thrust or push: She gave the cake a poke with a toothpick to see if it was done.
Informal. a slow or dawdling person; slowpoke.
Idioms about poke
poke fun at, to ridicule or mock, especially covertly or slyly: In her novel, she pokes fun at her ex-husband.
poke one's nose into, Informal. to meddle in; pry into: We felt as if half the people in town were poking their noses into our lives.
Origin of poke
1Other words from poke
- pok·a·ble, adjective
Words Nearby poke
Other definitions for poke (2 of 5)
Chiefly Midland U.S. and Scot.. a bag or sack, especially a small one.
a wallet or purse.
Archaic. a pocket.
Origin of poke
2Other definitions for poke (3 of 5)
a projecting brim at the front of a bonnet, framing the face.
Also called poke bonnet. a bonnet or hat with such a brim.
Origin of poke
3Other definitions for poke (4 of 5)
Origin of poke
4Other definitions for poke (5 of 5)
a Hawaiian salad of cubed raw tuna mixed with diced sweet onion and scallion and marinated in soy sauce and sesame oil.
Origin of poke
5Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use poke in a sentence
Just a poke, a tiny jab, a brief ouch, and you have your opinions about it.
In ‘Manhunt,’ a virus turns males into monsters | Terri Schlichenmeyer | March 4, 2022 | Washington BladeThe last time we would board an airplane, breathe other people’s air, stand close enough to catch the sharp poke of an elbow while someone tried to stuff luggage wheels-out in the overhead bin.
After a few warm-up pokes, a veterinarian injected the vaccine.
How zoos persuade animals to get the coronavirus vaccine. (M&Ms and ice cream help.) | Matt Blitz | October 25, 2021 | Washington PostThey get a full spread of poke, prawns, locally caught fish and kalua pork served on their balcony.
How hotels are making guests feel safer this summer | Christopher Elliott | June 16, 2021 | Washington PostThe test is still the same — a PCR test that involves a five-second swab in each nostril, not a deep poke back toward the brain.
Today in D.C.: Headlines to start your Wednesday in D.C., Maryland and Virginia | Dana Hedgpeth, Teddy Amenabar | December 10, 2020 | Washington Post
These tests prod and poke the children, creating lots of anxiety and taking away from the joy of learning.
Hunger Games Comes to New York State’s Public Schools | Zephyr Teachout | November 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPeople online have been attempting to poke holes in the science of Interstellar.
Christopher Nolan Uncut: On ‘Interstellar,’ Ben Affleck’s Batman, and the Future of Mankind | Marlow Stern | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs that clip played, Camille leaned over and gave her husband a playful poke in the ribs.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius | Mark Whitaker | October 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut when the pageant itself starts to poke fun at the contestants, organizers should expect that they will lose all credibility.
Lately, Richard Dawkins seems to scan the world for sore spots, take a good poke, and revel in the ensuing outcry.
She wore an old poke bonnet and carried a crooked stick, and there seemed to be a hump upon her back.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret PenroseThe hump-backed little figure with poke-bonnet and cane was chased out upon the broken landing.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret Penrose"Mr. Mudge requires no hat where he is now," continued the doctor, stooping to poke the fire.
Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon BlackwoodWhenever a potato lit up dangerously she gave it a poke into a new position.
The Box-Car Children | Gertrude Chandler WarnerBecause it's so much pleasanter, in a small library like this, to poke about by one's self—with the help of the librarian.
Summer | Edith Wharton
British Dictionary definitions for poke (1 of 4)
/ (pəʊk) /
(tr) to jab or prod, as with the elbow, the finger, a stick, etc
(tr) to make (a hole, opening, etc) by or as by poking
(when intr, often foll by at) to thrust (at)
(tr) informal to hit with the fist; punch
(usually foll by in, out, out of, through, etc) to protrude or cause to protrude: don't poke your arm out of the window
(tr) to stir (a fire, pot, etc) by poking
(intr) to meddle or intrude
(intr; often foll by about or around) to search or pry
(intr often foll by along) to loiter, potter, dawdle, etc
(tr) slang (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with
poke fun at to mock or ridicule
poke one's nose into See nose (def. 17)
Origin of poke
1British Dictionary definitions for poke (2 of 4)
/ (pəʊk) /
dialect a pocket or bag
a pig in a poke See pig (def. 9)
Origin of poke
2British Dictionary definitions for poke (3 of 4)
/ (pəʊk) /
Also called: poke bonnet a woman's bonnet with a brim that projects at the front, popular in the 18th and 19th centuries
the brim itself
Origin of poke
3British Dictionary definitions for poke (4 of 4)
/ (pəʊk) /
short for pokeweed
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with poke
In addition to the idioms beginning with poke
- poke around
- poke fun at
- poke one's nose into
also see:
- make fun of (poke fun at)
- pig in a poke
- take a poke at
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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