Definition

1. Noun:

   • A long-handled farm tool with two or more sharp, widely spaced metal prongs (tines), used for lifting and throwing loose material such as hay, straw, or manure.

2. Verb:

   • To lift, throw, or move something using a pitchfork.
   • (Figurative) To thrust or force someone or something suddenly and often unsuitably into a particular situation, position, or state.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The farmer used a pitchfork to load the hay onto the wagon.
  • An old pitchfork was leaning against the barn wall.

• Verb (literal):

  • He pitchforked the compost into the garden bed.
  • We need to pitchfork this straw into the stable.

• Verb (figurative):

  • The young actor was pitchforked into fame after his first major role.
  • They pitchforked me into the committee meeting at the last minute.

Advanced Usage

• "to rain pitchforks": (Idiomatic, informal) To rain very heavily.
  • Take an umbrella; it's raining pitchforks out there!

Variants and Related Words

• Hayfork: (noun) A type of pitchfork specifically designed for handling hay.
• Fork: (noun) A more general term for a tool with prongs, such as a garden fork or dining fork.

Synonyms

• Noun: Hayfork, manure fork.
• Verb (literal): Toss, spear, lift.
• Verb (figurative): Thrust, catapult, propel.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Pitchfork into: To force or thrust someone into a situation.
  • He was pitchforked into a leadership role he wasn't prepared for.

Related Idioms

• Raining cats and dogs / Raining pitchforks: (Idiom) Describing a very heavy downpour of rain.
  • The picnic was canceled because it started raining pitchforks.

Noun

1. a long-handled hand tool with sharp widely spaced prongs for lifting and pitching hay

Verb

1. lift with a pitchfork
   • pitchfork hay