don't poke the bear

A phrase uttered to ward off people who are needlessly angering, upseting, or annoying you... sometimes even going out of the way to do so. A different way to warn people that they're on thin ice, or that a joke is going too far.

John, eating pancakes: Ughh, these are terrible...

Macy: I'm sorry I tried not to burn them this time...

John, laughing: The syrup isn't even seeping in!

Macy: Hey, you never cook so don't complain!

John, still giggling, takes another bite and makes a gagging sound

Macy: Hey, don't poke the bear!

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Poking The Bear

"Poking The Bear", in a non-traditional sense, refers to when a man uses his erect genitalia to poke his significant other whilst they're resting, and once they're awake and ready to play, the perpetrator simply goes to rest.

Chad: Yeah I was poking the bear last night, and she got pissed!
Adonis: Well, when you poke the bear to mess around and then you don't finish the job, the bear might just throw a fit.

Poke the right bears

Business folks say this to 1) imply they can do favors, affect change, etc. and 2) sound macho.

Especially common among grown-up douchebro yuppie types.

Hydrogen fuel cells aren't a development priority this quarter? Let me see if I can poke the right bears to get this done.

Poke the Bear

The action of provoking and annoying one's father to become angry and irritated

(CHANT) "POKE THE BEAR... POKE THE BEAR... POKE THE BEAR"
~~~
"Don't poke the bear!"