# stick a fork in something

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/stick-a-fork-in-something
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used to indicate that something or someone is finished, or, in a broader sense, defeated or ruined.

## Examples

- The game is over, so stick a fork in it.
- I am exhausted after this long run, so stick a fork in me.
- This broken washing machine is beyond repair, so stick a fork in it.
- After the company lost its biggest client, the manager knew it was time to stick a fork in the project.
- My old laptop just made a loud clicking sound and the screen went black, so I think we can stick a fork in it.
- The chef burned the main course five minutes before the party started, so he had to stick a fork in the original menu.
- The candidate's poll numbers dropped so low after the scandal that her advisors told her it was time to stick a fork in the campaign.
- Once the final evidence was presented in court, the defense attorney realized the case was hopeless and decided to stick a fork in it.

## Origin

From the culinary practice of piercing a piece of meat with a fork to determine whether it is cooked. The physical resistance or tenderness encountered by the utensil indicates the status of the meal, signaling that the process has reached its conclusion.

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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.