poke Definition
- 1to push a finger or other pointed object quickly into someone or something
- 2to make a hole in something with a pointed object
- 3to appear from behind or through something suddenly or unexpectedly
Using poke: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "poke" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He poked me in the ribs to get my attention.
Example
She poked a hole in the paper with her pencil.
Example
The sun poked through the clouds for a moment.
Example
I poked around in the attic looking for old toys.
poke Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using poke
Example
I'm not going to buy that car without taking it for a test drive first. I don't want to buy a pig in a poke.
Example
He made a real pig's ear of the presentation. It was a disaster.
Example
I don't want to buy a pig in a poke. I need to see the product before I buy it.
Phrases with poke
Example
They always poke fun at him because of his accent.
Example
I wish he wouldn't poke his nose into my affairs.
Example
You're really poking the bear by criticizing his work like that.
Origins of poke
from Middle English 'poken', meaning 'to thrust, prod'
Summary: poke in Brief
The verb 'poke' [poʊk] refers to pushing a pointed object into someone or something, making a hole in something, or appearing suddenly. It can be used in phrases like 'poke fun at,' which means to make jokes in an unkind way, and idioms like 'buy a pig in a poke,' which means to buy something without seeing it first. 'Poke' has both formal and informal synonyms such as 'prod' and 'jab,' respectively.