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poke at (someone or something)
1. To jab, push, or prod someone or something (with something). Don't poke at that wasp's nest—I don't want to get stung! He sat poking at the dead body with a stick. You've got my attention, so stop poking at me already!
2. To use something to jab, push, or prod someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "poke" and "at." Don't you dare poke your finger at me like that! I poked a stick at the raccoon to get it out from under the porch.
poke something at someone or something
to jab or thrust something at someone or something. Don't poke that thing at me! The hunter poked his spear at the pig one more time and decided it was dead.
poke at someone or something
to thrust or jab at someone or something. Stop poking at me! Don't poke at the turtle. It might bite you.