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red-hot poker

American  

noun

  1. tritoma.


red-hot poker British  

noun

  1. See kniphofia

"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

Etymology

Origin of red-hot poker

First recorded in 1885–90; so called from the fiery red blossoms at the end of the flower spike


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.

See Examples For:

“It felt like someone had taken a red-hot poker out of the fire and stuck it through my chest,” Grantham recalled.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 1, 2023

One screen takes us through a field of red-hot poker flowers.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 17, 2020

The film shows the red-hot poker incident as a premonition experienced by the former king, but doesn't state it as fact.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 16, 2012

"He acted like a red-hot poker," says one of his officers.

From Time Magazine Archive

“Howld on!” cried Ted, suddenly clapping his hand on the touch-hole, and receiving the red-hot poker on the back of it.

From The Pirate City An Algerine Tale by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne

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