English Explanatory Dictionary

poke the bear

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To deliberately aggravate somebody, especially somebody in a position of power or authority.
  2. To deliberately anger Russia or the Russian government.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-poke the bear.wav

Word forms

poke the bear pokes the bear poking the bear poked the bear

Etymology

The second sense refers to the use of bears to represent Russia, as a shortening of the idiom "poke the Russian bear" (to anger or threaten Russia and start a war with Russia).

Related words

bearbaiting ruffle some feathers when you mess with the bull, you get the horns
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