better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Phrase

better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick

1. (humorous) Better than nothing; not unsatisfactory but also not a reason for enthusiastic excitement.

   Synonym: better than a kick in the teeth

   • 1994 October 7, Todd S. Purdum, “The 1994 Campaign: After Wary Weeks, Dinkins Announces Support for Cuomo”, in New York Times, retrieved 13 September 2015:

     Mr. Cuomo described the Dinkins endorsement as politically significant, but it is unclear just how much it matters. . . . "Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick," to borrow one of the former Mayor's favorite maxims.

Synonyms

• better than a poke in the eye
• better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick
• better than a poke in the eye with a shitty stick
• better than a poke in the eye with a rusty nail

Translations

better than nothing

• Italian: meglio di un pugno in un occhio
• Czech: lepší než drátem do oka.(litereally:better than (a poke) with a wire in the eye.)