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
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. 2023
How to use poke in a sentence
He lets it roll and then pokes it between two defenders to a teammate, darting inside towards the top of the box.
Joan Leonard, a pretty blonde, pokes her head around from the kitchen.
Elmore Leonard’s Rocky Road to Fame and Fortune | Mike Lupica | September 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMuch ink has been spilled over the title track, whose chorus pokes fun at some of the biggest pop divas of the day.
‘Sheezus’ Talks: Lily Allen on Her New Album, Lena Dunham, and ‘Game of Thrones’ | Marlow Stern | May 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAs a symbol, the transition Hamad announced Tuesday may be one of his most creative pokes at the Saudis yet.
Jim Carrey pokes fun at late NRA president Charlton Heston, gun owners in musical 'Funny or Die' spoof.
"Hee-Haw": Jim Carrey Mocks Gun Lovers & Charlton Heston In Spoof | Anna Klassen | March 25, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
But Ive marked the last place e bogged down into, an if e just pokes a nose out once more, ell get it in the neck for keeps.
Grapes of wrath | Boyd CableSome pokes of leather, much scratched, hung bulging from the rope which girded his coffee sack.
Lazarre | Mary Hartwell Catherwood“I reckon people have to buy pigs in pokes in dealing with this sort of thing, Triff,” he said.
The Herapath Property | J. S. FletcherIt's quite likely that one or more pokes will be taken at you.
The Syndic | C.M. KornbluthYou gents will lower one hand at a time and git yore pokes and kettles—watches and wallets—out of yore clothes.
Back Home | Irvin S. Cobb
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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