Definition

1. Verb:
   • To thrust, to jab, to stick: To push something long, thin, or pointed quickly and forcefully into something else.
   • To poke, to prod: To push a finger or a pointed object at someone or something, often to get attention or to test something.
   • (Informal) To meddle, to stick one's nose into: To interfere in someone else's business in an intrusive or unwanted way.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Cậu bé thọc một cái que xuống lỗ. (The boy jabbed a stick into the hole.)
  • Anh ấy thọc tay vào túi quần. (He thrust his hand into his trouser pocket.)
  • Đừng thọc vào chuyện riêng của họ. (Don't meddle in their private affairs.)

Advanced Usage

• "thọc sâu": to delve deep, to probe deeply (often into an issue or topic).
  • Bài báo thọc sâu vào vấn đề tham nhũng. (The article delves deep into the corruption issue.)
• "thọc gậy bánh xe": to put a spoke in someone's wheel, to sabotage or hinder someone's plans.
  • Đối thủ luôn tìm cách thọc gậy bánh xe vào dự án của chúng tôi. (Our competitors always try to put a spoke in the wheel of our project.)

Variants and Related Words

• Thọc lét (v): to tickle.
  • Bọn trẻ thích thọc lét nhau. (The children like to tickle each other.)

Synonyms

• Thrust/Jab: to push forcefully.
• Poke/Prod: to push with a pointed object.
• Meddle/Interfere: to involve oneself inappropriately.

Related Idioms

• Thọc gậy bánh xe: (as above) to deliberately obstruct or sabotage.
• Thọc mạch: to ferret out information, to probe for secrets (often gossip).
  • Cô ấy thích thọc mạch chuyện của hàng xóm. (She likes to ferret out the neighbors' business.)

verb

1. to thrust, to put into