pokey: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, colloquial
Quick answer
What does “pokey” mean?
Very slow, sluggish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Very slow, sluggish.
Also: small, cramped, or dingy (especially in American English 'poky'); or the act of poking with a finger or stick (as a verb).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In BrE, 'pokey' is primarily used for 'slow'. In AmE, 'poky' (spelling variant) is common for 'small/cramped' (e.g., a poky room). The 'slow' meaning is understood but less frequent in AmE.
Connotations
BrE 'pokey': negative, frustratingly slow. AmE 'poky': often negative, implying uncomfortably small and shabby.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both dialects, more common in spoken/informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “pokey” in a Sentence
SVO (The traffic is pokey.)SVC (The download felt pokey.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pokey” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Stop pokeying at your food!
- He was just pokeying around in the shed.
American English
- Quit pokeying the ant hill with that stick.
- She kept pokeying me in the ribs.
adverb
British English
- The car moved pokey along the country lane.
- (Rarely used as adverb)
American English
- (Rarely used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- The traffic on the M25 was absolutely pokey this morning.
- My laptop's got a bit pokey in its old age.
American English
- They lived in a poky little apartment above the store.
- The elevator is notoriously poky in this building.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Avoid in formal writing. May appear in informal emails: 'The software update is frustratingly pokey.'
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Common in casual complaints about speed: 'This queue is so pokey!'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pokey”
- Confusing 'pokey' (slow) with 'poky' (cramped).
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Misspelling as 'pockey'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is strictly informal and colloquial.
'Pokey' is the more common spelling for 'slow', especially in BrE. 'Poky' is the preferred spelling for 'cramped/small' in AmE, though they are often used interchangeably.
Yes, but only in the American slang phrase 'in the pokey', meaning 'in jail'. It's not used standalone with that meaning.
Almost always negative, expressing frustration with slowness or disapproval of small, shabby conditions.
Very slow, sluggish.
Pokey: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpəʊki/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpoʊki/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In the pokey (AmE slang: in jail).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a POKE with a stick – it's a slow, prodding motion. POKEY = POKE + Y = slow like a gentle poke.
Conceptual Metaphor
SLOW IS LACK OF ENERGY / SLOW IS HEAVY ('pokey' suggests a lack of drive or a burdensome slowness).
Practice
Quiz
In American English, what does 'a poky room' most likely describe?