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Synonyms

poke around

Idioms  

  1. Also, poke about. Look through things; also, make an investigation. For example, I was poking around the attic when I found these old photos, or The detective was poking about, tracking where she went on that fatal day. [Early 1800s] Also see nose about; poke one's nose into.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this case, Ford’s rivals didn’t have to poke around under the hood to find its latest hack.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 3, 2026

So naturally, one of the first things I did was call up my favorite local restaurants and ask if I could poke around in their kitchens.

From Salon • Jul. 15, 2025

When her friend and tintype mentor came to town, the pair went to Mills’ old property to poke around.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025

Then he had a poke around in his box.

From BBC • Aug. 2, 2024

“Mr. Forrest lets me poke around his law office,” he said.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.