| 释义 |
Definition of prick in English: prickverb prɪkprɪk [with object]1Make a small hole in (something) with a sharp point; pierce slightly. prick the potatoes all over with a fork Example sentencesExamples - Homer got out a hunting knife and pricked his thumb.
- The parents of a youngster who pricked his finger on a hypodermic needle in a park face an agonising wait to find out if he has caught any diseases.
- When I crawl into my bag, a sharp object pricks my thigh and I grope after it: pinecone.
- Meanwhile fry or poach the egg (eggs poach fine, yolk pricked, in a ramekin in a domestic microwave).
- Muttering to myself about the size of my purse, I pricked myself on a mechanical pencil tip.
- The young man lay on his bare back, feeling the needles pricking his skin and listening to the sound of the tattoo instrument.
- Two weeks before, she had pricked her index finger on a thorny cactus.
- Fee jammed her finger into a small hole, wincing as a needle pricked it, and a drop of blood fell on the DNA scanner.
- Babies have their heels pricked after they are born to perform a test.
- The flesh steams inside the potato's skin, and pricking it before putting it into the oven allows some of this steam to escape.
- A needle pricked her arm and Diana felt her blood gushing into the little tube that was attached to the sharp needle.
- But that goes out of the window the minute the first needle pricks the buttocks, shattering the calm of any expectations.
- He grabbed a needle-like object and pricked a hole in the tool.
- Mrs Harris said while one villager was gardening he narrowly missed pricking his finger on a needle thrown in his hedge.
- A nurse comes over and takes a blood sample by pricking the baby's finger with a needle and squeezing blood into a test tube.
- A needle pricks my arm and slowly all my muscles begin to relax.
- Oliver took out a needle and pricked his index finger and squeezed a drop of blood onto an empty slide.
- People pricked by errant needles can get specialized treatment at the Post Exposition Centre of the St-Luc Hospital.
- All you do is half the tomatoes and fry them in butter for five minutes, first cut side down, over a moderate heat, all the time pricking the firm sides with a sharp knife.
- For the grapefruit confit: In a pot, combine grapefruit sections, water and sugar and cook on low until the peel is tender when pricked.
Synonyms pierce, puncture, make/put a hole in, stab, perforate, rupture, riddle, penetrate, nick, spear, slit, incise, knife, bore, spike, skewer, spit, stick, punch, pin, needle, jag, jab rare pink, transpierce - 1.1no object Feel a sensation as though a sharp point were sticking into one.
she felt her scalp prick and her palms were damp Example sentencesExamples - On Mother's Day here, there's a sharp piece of glass lodged under my heart, it pricks at my heart every so often today, to know my mom isn't here anymore.
- The pain in her lip increased and a sudden sharp pain pricked at her gums.
- Relieved at some respite from this situation, the daggers of worry which had been pricking at my mind began to leave for just the briefest of moments…
- He lathered up in the shower, the water pricking and pounding down on his skin.
- But the thought of War still pricked at Ryane's mind.
- It was not merely irritation that pricked at me.
- Often had little Emit heard the sounds at night - sharp sounds that pricked at his ears and his temples.
- Her voice towards Millie was somewhat pricking and authoritative.
- A strange, unfamiliar yet intimately familiar sensation pricked at her back then, and she reached back to touch… what on earth!
- He can see nothing, but he can feel the nearness of the Spider - sharpness pricking at his throat with unexpected care.
- Slowly, she could feel an extraordinary force of power behind her, as if pricking on her skin to taunt her.
- Shame and loneliness pricked at the boy's flesh.
- Blotchy foot skin then develops with swelling, numbness, tingling, pricking or a wooden feeling in the feet.
Synonyms sting, smart, burn, tingle, prickle, itch - 1.2 (of tears) cause the sensation of imminent weeping in (a person's eyes)
tears of disappointment were pricking her eyelids Example sentencesExamples - Aislinn slumped back against the pillows, feeling tears prick her eyes.
- She felt tears pricking her eyes, and realized they had been there since she had touched his face.
- I felt unexpected tears prick my eyes and a lump swelled in my throat.
- Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away at once.
- Tears pricked my eyes but I forced them not to fall.
- Tears pricked Melissa's eyes at the scorn in Marsey's voice and for a moment she looked as if she would crumble.
- She told her twin of their sister without any emotion, and her brother only nodded, silent tears pricking his eyes and disappearing without falling.
- When I woke later that day, tears of shame pricked my eyes.
- Tears pricked my eyes, but I made steady my voice.
- He felt tears pricking his eyes again, and brushed them away.
- Tears pricked Martha's eyes as she hugged Tanya back.
- By the time Lydia had earned her breakfast, her delicate hands were red and stinging, and tears pricked her eyes as she bathed them.
- Stella's head started spinning and she felt tears pricking her eyes.
- Shivering, I started to hum the song my mother used to sing to me, tears pricking my eyes.
- Tears pricked her eyes, her cheeks looked flushed, and she hung up the phone without another word.
- I felt tears of shame prick my eyes, but I forced them back, looking up at Ella.
- The memory jolted me and fresh tears pricked my eyes.
- Sensing her despair, Malachi felt tears pricking his own eyes.
- Tears pricked her eyes, she stared at the letter in shock.
- Manda clamped her hand to her mouth, feeling tears pricking her eyes.
Synonyms sting, smart, burn, tingle, prickle, itch - 1.3 Cause mental or emotional discomfort to.
her conscience pricked her as she told the lie Example sentencesExamples - Interviewing film stars can be a laborious, arid affair: frail egos and zeppelin-like self-importance easily pricked.
- Nonetheless, it still bothered him in the back of his mind, pricking at him like an annoying and persistent mosquito, which just wouldn't let up.
- I guess it means that we should keep pricking away at him but make no serious effort to get him to resign or step down.
- His conscience pricked him as he cleaned and dressed himself.
- It pricked many a conscience, a reminder of how we missed Peter's advice.
- His political conscience is pricked into life by his friendship with black school caretaker Gordon.
- Even so their marriage is more than a mutually acceptable business proposition: he genuinely loves her in his way and she him in hers, so he claims when his conscience pricks him.
- There is a happy ending, however, as Zigby, pricked by a guilty conscience, builds the friendly ants a new home out of mud.
- The blind loyalty to a charismatic leader or group without heeding conscience when it pricks us on issues.
- It may or may not prick someone's conscience to cause them to come forward, even if it's just a passenger.
- Her conscience pricked her every time she thought of how mad she had gotten at Kirby before The Christmas Concert and had nearly deserted her friend.
- High street stores peppered with products bearing the slogan ‘guarantees a better deal for Third World producers’ could be a familiar sight by the end of the year, if the campaign pricks the public's conscience.
- Her conscience pricked as she took one of the seats near the very back corner.
Synonyms trouble, worry, distress, cause someone distress, perturb, disturb, oppress, harrow, harass, cause someone anguish, afflict, torment, plague, prey on, gnaw at, cut, touch, stab, pain, cause someone pain - 1.4 Provoke to action.
the police were pricked into action by the horrifying sight Example sentencesExamples - Even with her interest pricked, it was more by luck than design that she eventually found herself at drama college.
- Dr. Nair wheedled, and often pricked, the group to bring out their concerns and knowledge about the needs and demands of adolescence.
- He wasn't going to tell us, but now it seems he has been pricked into action.
- They were only pricked into action in the last 15 minutes after struggling Walsall had gone ahead with a lovely move.
Synonyms goad, prod, incite, provoke, urge, spur, sting, whip, prompt, stimulate, encourage, inspire, motivate, push, propel, impel
2(especially of a horse or dog) make (the ears) stand erect when on the alert. the dog's ears were pricked Example sentencesExamples - Nearby stood the two deer-creatures, ears pricked, watching with curiosity rather than alarm.
- She looked back to her horse, whose ears were pricked forward in anticipation.
- The horse pricked its ears and let loose a shrill whinny, trotting to Robyn.
- The surge in my stomach because it could still happen, because it was happening in a matter of seconds as they rushed to the line, my horse's head down, ears pricked back, nostrils flared, winning.
- With his ears pricked, Heart slowed himself up.
- As Leigh and Woodhouse point out, a horse with its ears pricked can be showing the sign of ‘an alert and willing horse’.
- Whilst I was doing this, my Mother said she heard a voice calling something, and the dog's ears pricked up.
- The three horses tied out front pricked their ears, giving a start.
- Demon picked his head up and pricked his ears forward as he watched the other stallion moving away.
- He nodded curtly to the noble, and then shouted the command to remount, which they did, the horses tossing their heads, ears pricked in excitement.
- Taking the lead as the field straightened for home, Pegasus charged down the middle of the stretch with his ears pricked, signally he still had plenty left.
noun prɪkprɪk 1An act of piercing something with a sharp point. the pin prick had produced a drop of blood Example sentencesExamples - ‘Aha,’ she said suddenly, as Timon felt a sudden prick in his finger.
- As though rebuking her, she felt the sharp prick of a needle on her arm.
- She applied a little pressure for a moment, sure it wouldn't bleed much more since it was only a little prick, then looked up at Alex.
- She saw Jesica turn away as the sharp prick of teeth caused her blood to flow.
- I feel the prick of the pin against my skin and wonder where my friends and family would be in another time.
- One of the kings announces that Sancho Panza will bring Altisidora back to life by experiencing her suffering in the form of twenty-five slaps in the face, twelve pinches and six pricks with a pin on his arms and back.
- The pain associated with lancet pricks has been largely overcome.
- Breast feeding was allowed for two minutes and stopped before a heel prick.
- With a simply prick of a needle; he had enough blood to test.
- Grab a branch of a young acacia tree crawling with appropriately named thornbugs and you just might utter an ‘ouch’ at the sharp prick.
- The sudden prick in his arm wasn't enough to shake his thoughts and he jerked away from it.
- He started to turn around when he felt a sharp prick by the side of his neck.
- He muttered under his breath as she was lost from sight and turned as a sharp prick was felt on his neck.
- Haemoglobin concentration was measured by finger prick before and 24 hours after delivery.
- There's now again this huge industry which in your career has just expanded, and most people who've had a baby are aware that their baby has a heel prick in the first week of life before they go home, usually, or by the nurse at home.
- If possible, it is preferable to use consistently either finger prick or venous blood.
- Maybe those nurses and sergeants had had more important things to think about than feelings regarding a prick of the skin.
- A tiny prick is made on your finger and the minute sample used to ensure that you are not anaemic or ill in any other way.
- The pin is uncapped, but its prick is no worse than a grenade by your side, or the constant threat of sudden death.
- At that moment, someone entered the room and Jared felt a sharp pin prick in his arm.
Synonyms poke, prod, dig, nudge, tap, butt, elbow, shove, punch, jolt - 1.1 A small hole or mark made by pricking something.
Example sentencesExamples - Two pricks were found on Cleopatra's arm, and it was believed that she had allowed herself to be bitten by an asp (a kind of poisonous snake).
- If there is evidence, what they're going to be looking for are some pitting of the metal, which are little tiny pinhole pricks.
Synonyms hole, puncture, perforation, pinhole nick, wound, cut, gash - 1.2 A sharp pain caused by being pierced with a sharp point.
he felt a tiny prick in his arm Example sentencesExamples - It's hard to have such a connection with you. when you get hurt I feel it a little too, and as you always get hurt, I keep feeling these little pricks of pain, you know?
- She felt a sharp prick in her arm and slowly the world fell away.
- Just need to extract some fluid, only a little prick, it won't hurt… tell me about your holiday… where did you go?
- Whatever it is, refuge from these pricks of a thousand pins is costly.
- Some regions are involved in delivering descriptive information about the feeling - where it is, how intense it is, whether it's a dull soreness or a sharp prick.
- Tiny pricks of pain jabbed her in numerous places.
- Trist felt a sharp prick of pain in his chest, but did not look down.
- Five seconds later, she felt more tiny pricks in her hand.
- As the dagger pierced Mystic's arm he felt a small prick.
- I felt a prick of pain at my throat, and even in this hazy state, I comprehended that Fraust had only nicked me.
- Instantly there was a needle prick of pain, but it dulled and Angel lost feeling in her foot.
- ‘No,’ said Echo, beginning to feel tiny needle pricks in her eyes.
- A sharp prick of pain registered in the back of her mind, causing her to jerk back in surprise, while at the same time, putting the tip of her slightly burned finger in her mouth.
- He was beautiful, she thought, then pulled back from that thought as from the prick of a thorn.
- He had been leaning against the trunk only a moment when he felt a sharp prick on the back of his neck.
- I can only hope I am getting an ear infection, but I am used to small pains and pricks when it comes to my ear.
- She couldn't help but feel the prick of pins and needles running up and down her arms.
- I felt a sharp prick in my leg and looked down to see the needle was stuck firmly in my flesh.
- I hadn't looked at the scratch despite all my chances to; it just didn't seem that serious, and I didn't like to think about the annoying pricks of pain I got if I really took the time to consider it.
- He winced as the sharp prick of pain told him he was awake and then smiled.
Synonyms jab, sting, pinprick, stab, nick, jag - 1.3 A sudden feeling of an unpleasant emotion.
she felt a prick of resentment Example sentencesExamples - Indeed, had she and Colonel Leek been sharing confidential affections, he might have felt a prick of jealousy.
- A prick of fear nibbled at her new - found joy and she opened the door slowly.
- Lately He had been having these pricks of elation, pangs of notorious jubilance.
- I felt a prick of anxiety, but that was nothing compared to what I usually felt.
- Feeling a sudden prick of danger, someone having stopped to offer her speedier passage to Portans, she felt the impulse to go for her dagger, but resisted and turned around at a calm rate.
Synonyms pang, pricking, twinge, stab, gnawing
2vulgar slang A man's penis. - 2.1 A stupid or contemptible man.
3archaic A spiked stick used for driving oxen. Example sentencesExamples - The prick was usually a wooden shaft with a pointed spike (prick) at one end.
- As a result, the prick would be driven deeper into the flesh of the rebellious animal.
Synonyms prod, spiked stick, spike, staff, crook, pole, rod
Phrases Hurt oneself by persisting in useless resistance or protest. Example sentencesExamples - Young Tim just wants a 10-speed bike but the effort he expends kicking against the pricks - brother, parents, teachers - is enough to drive insane even the healthiest among us.
- Ned is portrayed as both the good son taking responsibility for his big Irish immigrant family and the rebel offspring of a ne'er do well: lacking guidance but not the urge to kick against the pricks of a boorish Victoria constabulary.
- In his world at least those angry young men of his youth are still forever young and eternally kicking against the pricks.
- When I last left you - it seems so much longer than seven years - I knew in my heart that I was kicking against the pricks.
- They might have been Dagenham car workers, Yorkshire miners, Scottish dockers, dustbin men or printers, shimmering spectres now from distant times when to kick against the pricks was considered admirable rather than merely pointless.
- They are still kicking against the pricks for all they are worth but fortunately they have remembered to write some tunes this time around.
- I'm glad - more than glad, I'm indebted in a multitude of ways and even if I disagree with her on the details deeply grateful - that she is around to kick against the pricks, as exhausting and demoralizing an avocation as that is.
- And it's equally strange how much time you can spend kicking against the pricks, waiting and hoping for things to change - only to find that what you thought you wanted changed was really your safety net.
- He has constantly kicked against the pricks in the film business, hence the curmudgeonly tag.
- His conscience was reached: he faced up to the fact that he had been kicking against the pricks.
One becomes suddenly attentive. my ears pricked up when I overheard two guys discussing the actress
1(especially of a horse or dog) make the ears stand erect when on the alert. Example sentencesExamples - The lad was in despair, but when the cat heard this, he pricked up his ears.
- At hearing their names the horses pricked up their ears and looked at Umanac who held out a cube of sugar each in his palms.
- Cats and dogs also demonstrated their natural hunting instincts pricking up their ears when cats, mice and budgies came on the screen.
- The dog, on hearing his voice, pricks up his ears.
- ‘At least you will like the stables, Danin,’ and her mount pricked up his ears at hearing his name.
- Rilleta could feel her horse prick up her ears and snort as she scented the water, and then Rilleta was kicking her on, shouting at the top of her lungs.
- The phone rings unexpectedly in the night, and Bronwyn pricks up her ears and lifts a dog eyebrow as if to say ‘Who was that?’
- The mare pricked up her ears at mention of her name.
- Our dog Bruno, who was lying beside the bed (he had forgotten his occasional master long ago) pricked up his ears and I looked towards the porch door.
Synonyms listen carefully, pay attention, become attentive, begin to take notice, attend, concentrate on hearing, lend an ear, pin one's ears back - 1.1(of a person) become suddenly attentive.
he pricked up his ears when he heard them talking about him Example sentencesExamples - Jordan spoke quietly, but everyone pricked up their ears to listen.
- William listened and pricked up his ears when Mr. Irwin suggested that they should not waste their time on board the Norwood but keep their minds active.
- When a player of Sundin's stature and talent speaks up about simplifying the game, about playing smart defense-first hockey, his teammates better prick up their ears.
- Blathe pricked up his ears to listen more carefully.
- He caught a snippet of conversation from the table behind him; the name ‘Cartwright’ made him prick up his ears.
- Getting thoroughly interested in this tale, the eavesdropper had pricked up his ears a little more.
- Voices drifted out from the trailer and I pricked up my ears in spite of myself.
- Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, for the business has not been over good for some years, and an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy.
- Excellent speeches are magnetic, but nobody wants to prick up their ears for long to listen to nothing but nonsense.
- On the face of it, here was a set of ideas that might have made any historical publisher prick up their ears.
Synonyms listen carefully, pay attention, become attentive, begin to take notice, attend, concentrate on hearing, lend an ear, pin one's ears back
a spare prick at a wedding vulgar slang A person who is out of place or has no role in a particular situation.
Phrasal Verbs 1Draw a pattern by making small holes in a surface. he pricked out a rough design with his dagger Example sentencesExamples - The pattern has been pricked out with a point before the color was laid on.
- A pattern is pricked out by pins on the pillow to guide the worker.
- 1.1Decorate a surface by pricking out a pattern.
belts were often pricked out in fancy patterns Example sentencesExamples - There can be no doubt that the buckle-end of a belt could be a formidable weapon, but in fact the belts were often pricked out in fancy patterns or embellished with metal studs in much the same way that modern motor-bike boys adorn their jackets with stud designs.
2Plant seedlings in small holes made in the earth. he was in the garden pricking out marigolds Example sentencesExamples - The coriander seedlings have fast outstripped everything else and have their first true leaves and need pricking out any time now.
- She said they are busy all year, growing from seeds, pricking out the plants and growing vegetables in the greenhouse.
- Spring bedding sown earlier in the summer will be ready to prick out if sown in trays or thin out if in the garden.
- The big spring jobs, sowing, pricking out and planting out bedding and vegetables, pruning early flowering shrubs and getting the lawn into shape, are all finished.
- Seeds sown in February that have germinated and formed their first true leaves will need pricking out into small pots.
- Vegetable seedlings pricked out a few weeks ago will be getting stronger now, so consider standing the trays outside the greenhouse by day to harden them off.
- At the moment I'm still pricking out, but my back garden is already full of flowers.
- They will need exactly the same care as those done at home so limit how many are bought, bearing in mind they will need warmth and good light when they have been pricked out.
- Alternatively, collect ripe seed and sow in trays in a cold frame pricking them out when big enough.
- As May notes: ‘The bigger the roots, the more difficult it is to prick out seedlings and the more damage the plants might suffer.’
Derivatives noun ˈprɪkəˈprɪkər The test contains a sterile finger pricker for you to take a small blood sample with. Example sentencesExamples - Hotsuma walked on further, walking under lower branches and avoiding prickers.
- Watch the bushes, the opening is hidden by prickers.
- Applying these labyrinthine designs were the kol'shchiki or ‘zone prickers.’
- Maybe that's why we're moving so slowly, taking our time to pick our way between bunches of pricker bushes and gnarling tree roots.
Origin Old English pricca (noun), prician (verb), probably of West Germanic origin and related to Low German and Dutch prik (noun), prikken (verb). Rhymes artic, brick, chick, click, crick, flick, hand-pick, hic, hick, kick, lick, mick, miskick, nick, pic, pick, quick, rick, shtick, sic, sick, slick, snick, stick, thick, tic, tick, trick, Vic, wick Definition of prick in US English: prickverbprɪkprik [with object]1Make a small hole in (something) with a sharp point; pierce slightly. prick the potatoes with a fork Example sentencesExamples - Homer got out a hunting knife and pricked his thumb.
- Muttering to myself about the size of my purse, I pricked myself on a mechanical pencil tip.
- When I crawl into my bag, a sharp object pricks my thigh and I grope after it: pinecone.
- Fee jammed her finger into a small hole, wincing as a needle pricked it, and a drop of blood fell on the DNA scanner.
- Mrs Harris said while one villager was gardening he narrowly missed pricking his finger on a needle thrown in his hedge.
- All you do is half the tomatoes and fry them in butter for five minutes, first cut side down, over a moderate heat, all the time pricking the firm sides with a sharp knife.
- But that goes out of the window the minute the first needle pricks the buttocks, shattering the calm of any expectations.
- A nurse comes over and takes a blood sample by pricking the baby's finger with a needle and squeezing blood into a test tube.
- A needle pricks my arm and slowly all my muscles begin to relax.
- The parents of a youngster who pricked his finger on a hypodermic needle in a park face an agonising wait to find out if he has caught any diseases.
- Oliver took out a needle and pricked his index finger and squeezed a drop of blood onto an empty slide.
- For the grapefruit confit: In a pot, combine grapefruit sections, water and sugar and cook on low until the peel is tender when pricked.
- A needle pricked her arm and Diana felt her blood gushing into the little tube that was attached to the sharp needle.
- People pricked by errant needles can get specialized treatment at the Post Exposition Centre of the St-Luc Hospital.
- Babies have their heels pricked after they are born to perform a test.
- The young man lay on his bare back, feeling the needles pricking his skin and listening to the sound of the tattoo instrument.
- The flesh steams inside the potato's skin, and pricking it before putting it into the oven allows some of this steam to escape.
- Meanwhile fry or poach the egg (eggs poach fine, yolk pricked, in a ramekin in a domestic microwave).
- Two weeks before, she had pricked her index finger on a thorny cactus.
- He grabbed a needle-like object and pricked a hole in the tool.
Synonyms pierce, puncture, make a hole in, put a hole in, stab, perforate, rupture, riddle, penetrate, nick, spear, slit, incise, knife, bore, spike, skewer, spit, stick, punch, pin, needle, jag, jab - 1.1no object Feel a sensation as though a sharp point were sticking into one.
she felt her scalp prick and her palms were damp Example sentencesExamples - The pain in her lip increased and a sudden sharp pain pricked at her gums.
- Her voice towards Millie was somewhat pricking and authoritative.
- Blotchy foot skin then develops with swelling, numbness, tingling, pricking or a wooden feeling in the feet.
- Slowly, she could feel an extraordinary force of power behind her, as if pricking on her skin to taunt her.
- Often had little Emit heard the sounds at night - sharp sounds that pricked at his ears and his temples.
- He can see nothing, but he can feel the nearness of the Spider - sharpness pricking at his throat with unexpected care.
- It was not merely irritation that pricked at me.
- Relieved at some respite from this situation, the daggers of worry which had been pricking at my mind began to leave for just the briefest of moments…
- On Mother's Day here, there's a sharp piece of glass lodged under my heart, it pricks at my heart every so often today, to know my mom isn't here anymore.
- A strange, unfamiliar yet intimately familiar sensation pricked at her back then, and she reached back to touch… what on earth!
- He lathered up in the shower, the water pricking and pounding down on his skin.
- Shame and loneliness pricked at the boy's flesh.
- But the thought of War still pricked at Ryane's mind.
Synonyms sting, smart, burn, tingle, prickle, itch - 1.2 (of tears) cause the sensation of imminent weeping in (a person's eyes)
tears of disappointment were pricking her eyelids Example sentencesExamples - Aislinn slumped back against the pillows, feeling tears prick her eyes.
- Shivering, I started to hum the song my mother used to sing to me, tears pricking my eyes.
- Tears pricked her eyes and she wiped them away at once.
- She felt tears pricking her eyes, and realized they had been there since she had touched his face.
- Tears pricked her eyes, she stared at the letter in shock.
- She told her twin of their sister without any emotion, and her brother only nodded, silent tears pricking his eyes and disappearing without falling.
- Sensing her despair, Malachi felt tears pricking his own eyes.
- Manda clamped her hand to her mouth, feeling tears pricking her eyes.
- Tears pricked her eyes, her cheeks looked flushed, and she hung up the phone without another word.
- Tears pricked Melissa's eyes at the scorn in Marsey's voice and for a moment she looked as if she would crumble.
- I felt unexpected tears prick my eyes and a lump swelled in my throat.
- I felt tears of shame prick my eyes, but I forced them back, looking up at Ella.
- Tears pricked my eyes but I forced them not to fall.
- By the time Lydia had earned her breakfast, her delicate hands were red and stinging, and tears pricked her eyes as she bathed them.
- When I woke later that day, tears of shame pricked my eyes.
- The memory jolted me and fresh tears pricked my eyes.
- He felt tears pricking his eyes again, and brushed them away.
- Tears pricked Martha's eyes as she hugged Tanya back.
- Tears pricked my eyes, but I made steady my voice.
- Stella's head started spinning and she felt tears pricking her eyes.
Synonyms sting, smart, burn, tingle, prickle, itch - 1.3 Cause mental or emotional discomfort to.
her conscience pricked her as she told the lie Example sentencesExamples - There is a happy ending, however, as Zigby, pricked by a guilty conscience, builds the friendly ants a new home out of mud.
- Her conscience pricked her every time she thought of how mad she had gotten at Kirby before The Christmas Concert and had nearly deserted her friend.
- His political conscience is pricked into life by his friendship with black school caretaker Gordon.
- It pricked many a conscience, a reminder of how we missed Peter's advice.
- His conscience pricked him as he cleaned and dressed himself.
- Even so their marriage is more than a mutually acceptable business proposition: he genuinely loves her in his way and she him in hers, so he claims when his conscience pricks him.
- The blind loyalty to a charismatic leader or group without heeding conscience when it pricks us on issues.
- Nonetheless, it still bothered him in the back of his mind, pricking at him like an annoying and persistent mosquito, which just wouldn't let up.
- It may or may not prick someone's conscience to cause them to come forward, even if it's just a passenger.
- High street stores peppered with products bearing the slogan ‘guarantees a better deal for Third World producers’ could be a familiar sight by the end of the year, if the campaign pricks the public's conscience.
- Her conscience pricked as she took one of the seats near the very back corner.
- Interviewing film stars can be a laborious, arid affair: frail egos and zeppelin-like self-importance easily pricked.
- I guess it means that we should keep pricking away at him but make no serious effort to get him to resign or step down.
Synonyms trouble, worry, distress, cause someone distress, perturb, disturb, oppress, harrow, harass, cause someone anguish, afflict, torment, plague, prey on, gnaw at, cut, touch, stab, pain, cause someone pain - 1.4 Arouse or provoke to action.
the police were pricked into action Example sentencesExamples - He wasn't going to tell us, but now it seems he has been pricked into action.
- Dr. Nair wheedled, and often pricked, the group to bring out their concerns and knowledge about the needs and demands of adolescence.
- They were only pricked into action in the last 15 minutes after struggling Walsall had gone ahead with a lovely move.
- Even with her interest pricked, it was more by luck than design that she eventually found herself at drama college.
Synonyms goad, prod, incite, provoke, urge, spur, sting, whip, prompt, stimulate, encourage, inspire, motivate, push, propel, impel
2(especially of a horse or dog) make (the ears) stand erect when on the alert. the dog's tail was wagging and her ears were pricked Example sentencesExamples - With his ears pricked, Heart slowed himself up.
- Taking the lead as the field straightened for home, Pegasus charged down the middle of the stretch with his ears pricked, signally he still had plenty left.
- He nodded curtly to the noble, and then shouted the command to remount, which they did, the horses tossing their heads, ears pricked in excitement.
- The three horses tied out front pricked their ears, giving a start.
- As Leigh and Woodhouse point out, a horse with its ears pricked can be showing the sign of ‘an alert and willing horse’.
- Whilst I was doing this, my Mother said she heard a voice calling something, and the dog's ears pricked up.
- The horse pricked its ears and let loose a shrill whinny, trotting to Robyn.
- Demon picked his head up and pricked his ears forward as he watched the other stallion moving away.
- She looked back to her horse, whose ears were pricked forward in anticipation.
- The surge in my stomach because it could still happen, because it was happening in a matter of seconds as they rushed to the line, my horse's head down, ears pricked back, nostrils flared, winning.
- Nearby stood the two deer-creatures, ears pricked, watching with curiosity rather than alarm.
nounprɪkprik 1An act of piercing something with a fine, sharp point. the pin prick had produced a drop of blood Example sentencesExamples - With a simply prick of a needle; he had enough blood to test.
- The pain associated with lancet pricks has been largely overcome.
- Breast feeding was allowed for two minutes and stopped before a heel prick.
- A tiny prick is made on your finger and the minute sample used to ensure that you are not anaemic or ill in any other way.
- Haemoglobin concentration was measured by finger prick before and 24 hours after delivery.
- She saw Jesica turn away as the sharp prick of teeth caused her blood to flow.
- He started to turn around when he felt a sharp prick by the side of his neck.
- The pin is uncapped, but its prick is no worse than a grenade by your side, or the constant threat of sudden death.
- At that moment, someone entered the room and Jared felt a sharp pin prick in his arm.
- I feel the prick of the pin against my skin and wonder where my friends and family would be in another time.
- ‘Aha,’ she said suddenly, as Timon felt a sudden prick in his finger.
- One of the kings announces that Sancho Panza will bring Altisidora back to life by experiencing her suffering in the form of twenty-five slaps in the face, twelve pinches and six pricks with a pin on his arms and back.
- Maybe those nurses and sergeants had had more important things to think about than feelings regarding a prick of the skin.
- The sudden prick in his arm wasn't enough to shake his thoughts and he jerked away from it.
- As though rebuking her, she felt the sharp prick of a needle on her arm.
- She applied a little pressure for a moment, sure it wouldn't bleed much more since it was only a little prick, then looked up at Alex.
- Grab a branch of a young acacia tree crawling with appropriately named thornbugs and you just might utter an ‘ouch’ at the sharp prick.
- If possible, it is preferable to use consistently either finger prick or venous blood.
- He muttered under his breath as she was lost from sight and turned as a sharp prick was felt on his neck.
- There's now again this huge industry which in your career has just expanded, and most people who've had a baby are aware that their baby has a heel prick in the first week of life before they go home, usually, or by the nurse at home.
Synonyms poke, prod, dig, nudge, tap, butt, elbow, shove, punch, jolt - 1.1 A small hole or mark made by piercing something with a fine, sharp point.
Example sentencesExamples - Two pricks were found on Cleopatra's arm, and it was believed that she had allowed herself to be bitten by an asp (a kind of poisonous snake).
- If there is evidence, what they're going to be looking for are some pitting of the metal, which are little tiny pinhole pricks.
Synonyms hole, puncture, perforation, pinhole - 1.2 A sharp pain caused by being pierced with a fine point.
Example sentencesExamples - She felt a sharp prick in her arm and slowly the world fell away.
- He had been leaning against the trunk only a moment when he felt a sharp prick on the back of his neck.
- Tiny pricks of pain jabbed her in numerous places.
- It's hard to have such a connection with you. when you get hurt I feel it a little too, and as you always get hurt, I keep feeling these little pricks of pain, you know?
- She couldn't help but feel the prick of pins and needles running up and down her arms.
- ‘No,’ said Echo, beginning to feel tiny needle pricks in her eyes.
- Just need to extract some fluid, only a little prick, it won't hurt… tell me about your holiday… where did you go?
- I felt a prick of pain at my throat, and even in this hazy state, I comprehended that Fraust had only nicked me.
- Some regions are involved in delivering descriptive information about the feeling - where it is, how intense it is, whether it's a dull soreness or a sharp prick.
- Five seconds later, she felt more tiny pricks in her hand.
- He winced as the sharp prick of pain told him he was awake and then smiled.
- A sharp prick of pain registered in the back of her mind, causing her to jerk back in surprise, while at the same time, putting the tip of her slightly burned finger in her mouth.
- I hadn't looked at the scratch despite all my chances to; it just didn't seem that serious, and I didn't like to think about the annoying pricks of pain I got if I really took the time to consider it.
- He was beautiful, she thought, then pulled back from that thought as from the prick of a thorn.
- Whatever it is, refuge from these pricks of a thousand pins is costly.
- As the dagger pierced Mystic's arm he felt a small prick.
- Trist felt a sharp prick of pain in his chest, but did not look down.
- I can only hope I am getting an ear infection, but I am used to small pains and pricks when it comes to my ear.
- Instantly there was a needle prick of pain, but it dulled and Angel lost feeling in her foot.
- I felt a sharp prick in my leg and looked down to see the needle was stuck firmly in my flesh.
Synonyms jab, sting, pinprick, stab, nick, jag - 1.3 A sudden feeling of distress, anxiety, or some other unpleasant emotion.
she felt a prick of resentment Example sentencesExamples - Feeling a sudden prick of danger, someone having stopped to offer her speedier passage to Portans, she felt the impulse to go for her dagger, but resisted and turned around at a calm rate.
- I felt a prick of anxiety, but that was nothing compared to what I usually felt.
- A prick of fear nibbled at her new - found joy and she opened the door slowly.
- Lately He had been having these pricks of elation, pangs of notorious jubilance.
- Indeed, had she and Colonel Leek been sharing confidential affections, he might have felt a prick of jealousy.
Synonyms pang, pricking, twinge, stab, gnawing
2vulgar slang A penis. - 2.1 A man regarded as stupid, unpleasant, or contemptible.
3archaic A spiked stick used for driving oxen. Example sentencesExamples - The prick was usually a wooden shaft with a pointed spike (prick) at one end.
- As a result, the prick would be driven deeper into the flesh of the rebellious animal.
Synonyms prod, spiked stick, spike, staff, crook, pole, rod
Phrases Hurt oneself by persisting in useless resistance or protest. Example sentencesExamples - Young Tim just wants a 10-speed bike but the effort he expends kicking against the pricks - brother, parents, teachers - is enough to drive insane even the healthiest among us.
- I'm glad - more than glad, I'm indebted in a multitude of ways and even if I disagree with her on the details deeply grateful - that she is around to kick against the pricks, as exhausting and demoralizing an avocation as that is.
- They might have been Dagenham car workers, Yorkshire miners, Scottish dockers, dustbin men or printers, shimmering spectres now from distant times when to kick against the pricks was considered admirable rather than merely pointless.
- And it's equally strange how much time you can spend kicking against the pricks, waiting and hoping for things to change - only to find that what you thought you wanted changed was really your safety net.
- They are still kicking against the pricks for all they are worth but fortunately they have remembered to write some tunes this time around.
- When I last left you - it seems so much longer than seven years - I knew in my heart that I was kicking against the pricks.
- He has constantly kicked against the pricks in the film business, hence the curmudgeonly tag.
- Ned is portrayed as both the good son taking responsibility for his big Irish immigrant family and the rebel offspring of a ne'er do well: lacking guidance but not the urge to kick against the pricks of a boorish Victoria constabulary.
- In his world at least those angry young men of his youth are still forever young and eternally kicking against the pricks.
- His conscience was reached: he faced up to the fact that he had been kicking against the pricks.
1(especially of a horse or dog) make the ears stand erect when on the alert. Example sentencesExamples - Rilleta could feel her horse prick up her ears and snort as she scented the water, and then Rilleta was kicking her on, shouting at the top of her lungs.
- The mare pricked up her ears at mention of her name.
- Our dog Bruno, who was lying beside the bed (he had forgotten his occasional master long ago) pricked up his ears and I looked towards the porch door.
- ‘At least you will like the stables, Danin,’ and her mount pricked up his ears at hearing his name.
- At hearing their names the horses pricked up their ears and looked at Umanac who held out a cube of sugar each in his palms.
- The lad was in despair, but when the cat heard this, he pricked up his ears.
- The phone rings unexpectedly in the night, and Bronwyn pricks up her ears and lifts a dog eyebrow as if to say ‘Who was that?’
- Cats and dogs also demonstrated their natural hunting instincts pricking up their ears when cats, mice and budgies came on the screen.
- The dog, on hearing his voice, pricks up his ears.
Synonyms listen carefully, pay attention, become attentive, begin to take notice, attend, concentrate on hearing, lend an ear, pin one's ears back - 1.1(of a person) become suddenly attentive.
he pricked up his ears when he heard them talking about him Example sentencesExamples - On the face of it, here was a set of ideas that might have made any historical publisher prick up their ears.
- Voices drifted out from the trailer and I pricked up my ears in spite of myself.
- Jordan spoke quietly, but everyone pricked up their ears to listen.
- William listened and pricked up his ears when Mr. Irwin suggested that they should not waste their time on board the Norwood but keep their minds active.
- Well, you can easily think that that made me prick up my ears, for the business has not been over good for some years, and an extra couple of hundred would have been very handy.
- Blathe pricked up his ears to listen more carefully.
- Excellent speeches are magnetic, but nobody wants to prick up their ears for long to listen to nothing but nonsense.
- Getting thoroughly interested in this tale, the eavesdropper had pricked up his ears a little more.
- When a player of Sundin's stature and talent speaks up about simplifying the game, about playing smart defense-first hockey, his teammates better prick up their ears.
- He caught a snippet of conversation from the table behind him; the name ‘Cartwright’ made him prick up his ears.
Synonyms listen carefully, pay attention, become attentive, begin to take notice, attend, concentrate on hearing, lend an ear, pin one's ears back
Phrasal Verbs prick something out (or off) Transplant seedlings to a container or bed that provides adequate room for growth. he was in the garden pricking out marigolds Example sentencesExamples - They will need exactly the same care as those done at home so limit how many are bought, bearing in mind they will need warmth and good light when they have been pricked out.
- The coriander seedlings have fast outstripped everything else and have their first true leaves and need pricking out any time now.
- Alternatively, collect ripe seed and sow in trays in a cold frame pricking them out when big enough.
- Spring bedding sown earlier in the summer will be ready to prick out if sown in trays or thin out if in the garden.
- Seeds sown in February that have germinated and formed their first true leaves will need pricking out into small pots.
- She said they are busy all year, growing from seeds, pricking out the plants and growing vegetables in the greenhouse.
- Vegetable seedlings pricked out a few weeks ago will be getting stronger now, so consider standing the trays outside the greenhouse by day to harden them off.
- The big spring jobs, sowing, pricking out and planting out bedding and vegetables, pruning early flowering shrubs and getting the lawn into shape, are all finished.
- At the moment I'm still pricking out, but my back garden is already full of flowers.
- As May notes: ‘The bigger the roots, the more difficult it is to prick out seedlings and the more damage the plants might suffer.’
Origin Old English pricca (noun), prician (verb), probably of West Germanic origin and related to Low German and Dutch prik (noun), prikken (verb). |