to poke a stick in somebody's eye

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Korinka

#431609 Wed, 17 Oct 07 12:43 AM

Hi! Could you please explain this idiom?
Thanks in advance!

Korinka

Joined on Wed, Apr 5 2006

Russia

New Member (16)

Idioms

Grammar Geek

#431610 Wed, 17 Oct 07 12:44 AM

There is an expression that goes "Well, it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick." Perhaps it's a Southern expression. Anyway, it's used when something isn't great, but it isn't bad.

Can you show an example of how you saw this used?

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,195)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Expressions

Marius Hancu

#431635 Wed, 17 Oct 07 02:53 AM

To me, it means to hurt/criticize someone.

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"Why poke a stick in somebody's eye if you don't have to?" she
said. "If you're going to have an intelligent design course and call
it mythology, I think in the very least it's a slap in the face to
every Judeo-Christian religion that's out there."

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/nov/23/ku_official_responds_course_critics/?ku_news
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