prod into (someone or something)

prod into (someone or something)

1. To poke, jab, or thrust into someone or something. Someone's elbow kept prodding into me for the whole train ride. I would never get a tattoo—the thought of a needle prodding into my skin over and over again gives me the heebie-jeebies.

2. To poke, jab, or thrust someone or something into some place or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "prod" and "into." I used a metal rod to prod the books into the furnace. The guards prodded the prisoners into their cells with their batons.

3. To motivate, goad, provoke, or compel someone into some action, status, or situation. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "prod" and "into." Hearing everyone else's moving testimonies has prodded me into opening up about my own experiences a bit more. The attack has prodded governments from around the world into action against the regime.

See also: prod

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

prod someone into something

to motivate someone into doing something; to provoke someone into action. Do I have to prod you into going? Can't you volunteer for once? We will prod her into getting it done on time.

See also: prod

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.