Phrases & SayingsEveryday life
better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick
Also: better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick
Better than nothing; an outcome that is at least preferable to something worse.
In a sentence
The small refund was better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick.
Where it came from
The phrase is well established in Australian use, while dictionaries also show broader British/Commonwealth currency.
- Where used
- Australia-wide