Pokey - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Pokey means small, cramped, or uncomfortably slow. It can describe a tight space, like a pokey room, or something sluggish, such as pokey progress. The term is informal and often negative.
Definition:
Small, cramped, or shabby; also slang for jail.
Synonyms:
cramped, confined, dingy, shabby
Part of Speech:
adjective, noun
Antonyms:
spacious, roomy
Common Collocations:
pokey little room, pokey old car, pokey jail cell
Derivatives:
pokeys (plural noun), pokiness (noun)
Usage Tips:
Use "pokey" to describe small or slow things informally; avoid in formal writing.
Common Phrases:
in the pokey, pokey little town, move at a pokey pace
Etymology:
Originated in the 19th century, possibly from "poke" meaning bag or sack, implying something small or slow.
Examples:
- 1. The hotel room was pokey and uncomfortable.
- 2. He spent a night in the pokey for speeding.
- 3. Her pokey old car barely made it up the hill.
- 4. The café was cozy but a bit pokey for large groups.