poke borack
Appearance
English
[edit]Alternative forms
[edit]Etymology
[edit](This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Verb
[edit]poke borack (third-person singular simple present pokes borack, present participle poking borack, simple past and past participle poked borack)
- (intransitive, Australia, often with "at") To impart false information in an attempt to mislead.
- 1888, Joseph Colin Francis Johnson, An Austral Christmas, page 10:
- […] and say, “Come on, Towball old boy, you′re old ′partment′s a waitin′ for you, sheets aired, and everything right.” Oh! he′s a awful cove for to poke borack at a feller, that old O'Neil.
- (intransitive, Australia, often with "at") To ridicule.
- 1885, Australasian Printers, editor, The Australasian Printers′ Keepsake, a Selection of Tales, Essays, Sketches, and Verse, by Victorian Compositors, page 154:
- One toff, who fancied himself, still kept poking borack; but Steve stopped his chyacking pretty quick, for he hauled off and let him have it.
- 1905, John Arthur Barry, Steve Brown's Bunyip, and Other Stories, page 21:
- ‘Well, sir,’ replied Peter, rather sheepishly, ‘you see, they′re always a-poking borack an′ a-chiackin′ o′ me over in the hut because I′ve never seed nothin′. […] ’
Synonyms
[edit]- (attempt to mislead): lead on, lead someone down the garden path, poke mullock
- (ridicule): chiack, jeer, mock