poke a hole in

poke a hole in (something)

1. Literally, to form a hole in something by piercing it (with something else). Tommy, stop poking holes in your bread and eat it! She began absentmindedly poking a hole in her paper with her pen.
2. To identify or highlight some flaw in some plan, idea, argument, etc. Typically used in plural constructions. She quickly began poking holes in his theory. Before I offer up my own proposals, let me begin by poking a few holes in what my opponent has suggested.
See also: hole, poke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

poke a hole in something

 and poke a hole through something
to make a hole by pushing something through something; to push something through a hole. The carpenter poked a hole in the wall with a nail. The fisherman poked a hole through the ice with a pick.
See also: hole, poke
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • poke a hole in (something)
  • poke a hole through (something)
  • dig in
  • dig in(to) (something)
  • dig into
  • be in a hole
  • hole out
  • punch a hole in
  • punch a hole in (something)
  • glory hole
References in periodicals archive
If your site is so rocky or the ground is so hard that you cannot poke a hole in several inches deep, this is not going to work for you.
The real meaning of stick-building
Poke a hole in the center of the lids with a pencil point.
Wind up here!
It doesn't take much of a bump to poke a hole in the condensers.
Prescription for a healthy fox
To make a nut box, get a shoe box and poke a hole in each side.
Tricky trackers
Find a spot where the snow is at least one foot deep and solid enough to hold its shape when you poke a hole in it.
Waxing poetic: create beautiful colored candles using snow as your mold