poke

Everyday

1. To poke is to push something with your finger or a pointed object. tree →
2. To poke out is to stick out from somewhere so you can see part of it. tree →
3. A poke is a quick push with a finger or stick. tree →
4. To poke around is to look around in a place, sometimes where you should not. tree →
5. To poke fun at someone is to laugh at them unkindly. tree →
6. To buy a pig in a poke means to buy something without looking at it first. tree →

In the lessons

In safety, never poke anything into an electric socket, your ears, your eyes or an animal. Don't poke a wild animal or a sleeping dog. In stories, a head poking out of a hole shows someone hiding or curious. Phrases: poke fun at, poke your nose into (be nosy), poke out, poke around, a poke in the eye.

Examples

• Don't poke the dog with a stick. tree →
• He poked me in the arm to wake me. tree →
• A rabbit poked its head out of the burrow. tree →
• Never poke anything into a socket. tree →
• Stop poking around in my room! tree →
• It's unkind to poke fun at people. tree →
• Daffodils were poking up through the soil. tree →

Note

Past form poked. "Poke your nose into" means interfere in other people's business. Poking someone in the eye can cause serious injury, even as a joke.