# poke the bear

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/poke-the-bear
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To deliberately aggravate somebody, especially somebody in a position of power or authority.

## Examples

- Do not poke the bear by asking him about his mistakes.
- She decides not to poke the bear by complaining about her landlord's new rules.
- The manager is already angry today, so do not poke the bear by bringing up the budget cuts.
- You should avoid mentioning the late delivery to the chef while he is busy, or you might be poking the bear during the dinner rush.
- The journalist knew that asking the politician about the old scandal was like poking the bear, but she needed the truth for her story.
- By publicly questioning the director's authority during the board meeting, the junior analyst knowingly poked the bear and risked his career.

## Origin

The idiom originates from the nineteenth-century geopolitical tendency to represent Russia as a bear. It began as a shortening of the specific phrase "poke the Russian bear," which described the act of threatening or provoking Russia into a state of war. Under the metaphor, a diplomatic or military slight was treated as the physical agitation of a large and predictably irritable animal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.