poke holes in

verb

To criticize someone by finding flaws or weaknesses in their work or to criticize something by demonstrating that it is not correct.

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Meanings

verbpoke holes in (third-person singular simple present pokes holes in, present participle poking holes in, simple past and past participle poked holes in)

present singular third person pokes holes in · participle present poking holes in · participle past poked holes in · past poked holes in

  1. idiomaticinformalTo criticize someone by finding flaws or weaknesses in their work or to criticize something by demonstrating that it is not correct.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see poke, holes, in.
Cite this entry
APA

poke holes in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poke%20holes%20in

MLA

“poke holes in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poke%20holes%20in. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “poke holes in,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/poke%20holes%20in.

Source: poke holes in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.