What does poked slang mean?

(intr often foll by along) to loiter, potter, dawdle, etc. (tr) slang (of a man) to have sexual intercourse with. poke fun at to mock or ridicule.

What is a paper poke?

In many parts of Scotland poke means a little paper bag for carrying purchases or a cone-shaped piece of paper for an ice-cream cone. The Oxford English Dictionary gives similar forms in other languages: Icelandic poki, Gaelic poc or poca, and French poche.

Where does the word poke come from?

Poke first appears in English in the 1200s and probably comes from Old North French, the northern dialect of Old French. The Old North French word in turn is probably of Germanic origin and is related to words like Icelandic poki, “bag.” Poke has several relatives within English.

Where does the saying pig in a poke come from?

The origin of the expression ‘pig in a poke’ comes from the 1500s, when a “poke” was a sack, and merchants would sell piglets in pokes, often sight unseen.

Why are cowboys called pokes?

Right – the old job of cowboys was to move the cattle from the ranch to the rail station/slaughterhouse, i.e. a “Cattle drive” . I guess this often involved “poking” to keep the cows together – hence the name “cowpoke”.

What is buy a pig in a poke?

Definition of pig in a poke

: something offered in such a way as to obscure its real nature or worth unwilling to buy a pig in a poke.

What does the phrase flash in the pan mean?

Definition of flash in the pan

1 : a sudden spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing. 2 : one that appears promising but turns out to be disappointing or worthless.

What is the meaning of fish out of water?

A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [ Late 1300s]

What means a flash in the pan?

success
Someone or something that promises great success but soon fails: “The rock group that was all the rage last year turned out to be just another flash in the pan.”

What does the idiom feet of clay mean?

a weakness or hidden flaw in the character of a greatly admired or respected person: He was disillusioned to find that even Lincoln had feet of clay. any unexpected or critical fault.

What is the meaning of spade a spade?

phrase. If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak clearly and directly about things, even embarrassing or unpleasant things. [approval] I’m not at all secretive, and I’m pretty good at calling a spade a spade.

What is the meaning of not fit to hold a candle?

Also, not fit to or cannot hold a candle to. Be inferior to someone or something, as in This hotel can’t hold a candle to the Palace, or This new friend of his is not fit to hold a candle to his former buddies.

What does bolt from the blue mean?

totally unexpected
Definition of bolt from the blue

: a complete surprise : something totally unexpected.

What does pulling no punches mean?

Behave unrestrainedly, hold nothing back, as in The doctor pulled no punches but told us the whole truth. This expression comes from boxing, where to pull one’s punches means “to hit less hard than one can.”

What does it mean worth his salt?

Definition of ‘worth one’s salt’

If you say, for example, that any doctor worth his or her salt would do something, you mean that any doctor who was good at his or her job or who deserved respect would do it.

What is the meaning of cry over spilled milk?

Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Meaning & History

No matter how you say the proverb, “don’t cry over spilled milk” or “it’s no use crying over spilled milk,” the phrase means that there’s no point to being upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed.

What does the idiom cold feet mean?

To “have cold feet” is to be too fearful to undertake or complete an action. A wave of timidity or fearfulness. Loss or lack of courage or confidence. Timidity that prevents the continuation of a course of action.

What’s the meaning of keep your eyes peeled?

Definition of ‘to keep your eyes peeled’

If you tell someone to keep their eyes peeled for something, you are telling them to watch very carefully for it.