Poking with a prod is a term used to describe the act of goading someone into action. It is often used in a figurative sense, to refer to the act of prodding someone to do something they may not want to do. Goading is a form of psychological manipulation that involves using verbal or physical cues to encourage someone to do something. It can be used to motivate someone to take action, or to get them to do something they would not normally do.