poke
CommonInformal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To push or jab with something pointed, such as a finger or stick.
To stir or prod something, often to cause a reaction; to tease or mock someone; to investigate casually.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a light, casual action; can be used figuratively in phrases like 'poke fun' (to tease) or 'poke holes' (to criticize).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor; in American English, 'poke' is common in 'poke bowl' (a Hawaiian dish), while in British English, this usage is less frequent. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Generally similar; both dialects associate 'poke' with a gentle or curious action, but it can imply annoyance if unwanted.
Frequency
Equally common in everyday speech in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
poke somethingpoke at somethingpoke someone with somethingpoke into somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “poke the bear”
- “poke one's nose into”
- “poke fun at”
- “take a poke at”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear informally, e.g., 'poke around the data' for casual investigation.
Academic
Uncommon; used figuratively, e.g., 'poke holes in a theory' to indicate criticism.
Everyday
Very common, e.g., 'Don't poke me!' or 'I'll poke the fire to keep it going.'
Technical
Used in computing, e.g., 'poke a memory address' in legacy programming contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He poked the cake to see if it was done.
- She poked her head around the door to check.
- Don't poke the animal; it might get angry.
American English
- He poked the fire to keep it burning.
- She poked fun at his new haircut.
- I'll poke around the attic for old photos.
adverb
British English
- He moved poke along the trail, taking his time.
- She answered poke, avoiding direct questions.
American English
- He drove poke through the traffic, in no hurry.
- She worked poke on the project, without much focus.
adjective
British English
- She wore a poke bonnet to the historical reenactment.
- The poke salad plant grows wild in some areas.
American English
- He ordered a poke bowl with fresh tuna for lunch.
- Poke salad is a traditional Southern dish.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Don't poke your brother!
- He poked the balloon and it popped.
- She poked the mud with a stick.
- He poked the fire to make it brighter.
- They like to poke fun at each other.
- Poke the dough gently to test it.
- The reporter poked into the company's finances.
- You shouldn't poke your nose into private matters.
- He poked holes in their argument during the debate.
- Her research poked at the assumptions underlying the theory.
- The critic poked fun at the film's plot inconsistencies.
- Poking the bear in negotiations led to unexpected concessions.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'poke' rhyming with 'joke'—often it's a light action, like poking someone playfully.
Conceptual Metaphor
INVESTIGATION IS PHYSICAL PROBING; CAUSATION IS GENTLE PRODDING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'толкать' (to push) – 'poke' обычно более лёгкое и часто используется в переносном смысле, например, 'poke fun' (подшучивать).
- Избегайте перевода как 'копать' (to dig) в контексте 'poke around' – здесь значение 'исследовать поверхностно'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'poke' for forceful actions like stabbing; it's typically gentle.
- Confusing 'poke' with 'push' – 'poke' involves a pointed object or finger.
- Overusing 'poke' in formal writing where 'prod' or 'investigate' might be better.
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'poke the bear' typically mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'poke' is generally informal or neutral and is most common in everyday speech or casual contexts.
Yes, as a noun, 'poke' can mean a quick push or jab, or in some dialects, a bag or sack (e.g., 'a pig in a poke').
'Poke' often implies a lighter, more casual action, while 'jab' can suggest a sharper, more forceful motion, such as in boxing or medical contexts.
In computing, especially in older programming languages, 'poke' refers to writing data to a specific memory address, contrasting with 'peek' for reading.