[Vocabulary] pique one's curiosity/interest

[luxury20041985]

Hello:

I am confused about the meaning of pique in the idioms of “pique one’s interest/curiosity”.

While most dictionaries define the idioms as excite/stimulate one’s interest, I have found a definition for pique in Merriam-Webster:

to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff.

In the Choose the Right Synonym for pique section, it is also stated that PIQUE suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge.

I don’t understand that how a provocation, a challenge or a rebuff can get you interested.

The below are from dictionaries.
1) sly remarks to pique their curiosity. Does this mean that a person acts as if he knew a secret to get others interested in him. a provocation?
2) The programme has certainly piqued public interest in this rare bird. In what ways does it get the public interested? A provocation?
Sentence 3 is my self-made sentence.
3) I assigned students challenging exercises to pique their interest in literature. (because if I don't challenge them, students would feel bored) A challenge? Does “pique their interest” work here?

What is the connotation of “pique one’s interest”? I have done research on this expression for a whole afternoon, and I am still confused. I really appreciate it if you would she light on it. Please.

 

[Tarheel]

If you pique somebody's interest in something you stimulate their interest. In other words, you get them interested in it.

I suggest that you don't spend a whole afternoon on one word.

(At least you didn't say "Thank you".)

 

[Rover_KE]

luxury, you don't appear to have found the 'Thank' and 'Like' buttons. They're in the bottom left-hand corner of every post.

 

[luxury20041985]

luxury, you don't appear to have found the 'Thank' and 'Like' buttons. They're in the bottom left-hand corner of every post.

I still cannot see them. I don't know why.

 

[Tdol]

You can pique people both positively and negatively. A challenge can make you interested as it questions what you have believed.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

You might notice that a lot of native English speakers spell it peek or peak.

They're wrong.

 

[luxury20041985]

Indeed. I browsed through many threads about the difference between peek, peak and pique. This must be a common mistake.

To pique one’s interest is to arouse curiosity with a challenge. From http://writedivas.com/commonly-confused-peak-peek-and-pique/

pique one's interest" is synonymous with expanding someone's horizons by placing them in a new situation that requires unique and original thinking From https://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyFirstDefinitionPiqueArouse-Resentment/qvgph/post.htm

Would you agree with the above two definitions? Does "pique" necessarily imply a challenge ? I hope someone gives me further help.:up:

 

[Rover_KE]

I still cannot see them. I don't know why.

Please click here and see post #23.

 

[Tarheel]

Indeed. I browsed through many threads about the difference between peek, peak and pique. This must be a common mistake.

To pique one’s interest is to arouse curiosity with a challenge. From http://writedivas.com/commonly-confused-peak-peek-and-pique/

pique one's interest" is synonymous with expanding someone's horizons by placing them in a new situation that requires unique and original thinking From https://www.englishforums.com/English/WhyFirstDefinitionPiqueArouse-Resentment/qvgph/post.htm

Would you agree with the above two definitions? Does "pique" necessarily imply a challenge ? I hope someone gives me further help.:up:

Not necessarily, although I suppose it could.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Indeed. I browsed through many threads about the difference between peek, peak and pique. This must be a common mistake. . . .

Yes, it is.

The reason is that people often hear it spoken but rarely see it in print.

And the reason for that is that we talk and listen more than we read.

 

[jutfrank]

This thread has become long and messy. Here are my best answers.

I am confused about the meaning of pique in the idioms of “pique one’s interest/curiosity”.

These are not idioms.

While most dictionaries define the idioms as excite/stimulate one’s interest

Yes, that's accurate enough. Also, arouse is a good verb here.

I have found a definition for pique in Merriam-Webster: to excite or arouse especially by a provocation, challenge, or rebuff.

Just forget about the bold part. It's confusing you unnecessarily.

In the Choose the Right Synonym for pique section, it is also stated that PIQUE suggests stimulating by mild irritation or challenge.

I suggest you ignore this.

1) sly remarks to pique their curiosity. Does this mean that a person acts as if he knew a secret to get others interested in him. Yes a provocation? Probably not.
2) The programme has certainly piqued public interest in this rare bird. In what ways does it get the public interested? We don't know. A provocation? Definitely not.
Sentence 3 is my self-made sentence.
3) I assigned students challenging exercises to pique their interest in literature. (because if I don't challenge them, students would feel bored) A challenge? Does “pique their interest” work here? Yes, it could work.

What is the connotation of “pique one’s interest”? I have done research on this expression for a whole afternoon, and I am still confused. I really appreciate it if you would she light on it. Please.

It's similar to 'arouse interest in somebody'.

 

[luxury20041985]

Thanks everyone, I owe you a lot of big likes and thanks.

Please click here and see post #23.

I have checked the post. I am sure I can not see them. The same as last time. I can only see the report post button.

 

[emsr2d2]

Can you post a screenshot of what you see in the blue box to the left of each post? This is what it should look like:


The relevant buttons are at the bottom although I don't think you'll be able to see the two to the left of "Report Post" which I think are for moderators only. Nonetheless, we'd like to see what you see! Make sure you're not looking at your own info box. In that, you'll only see the Report Post button (because you can't hit Thank or Like on your own posts).

 

[luxury20041985]

Edit: My post got Piscean confused.

I got my screenshot. However since I was unable to attach it, I tried to copy everything on my screen and pasted into this post. Still, it didn't work. So I deleted them all.

Posting Permissions

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[luxury20041985]

That screenshot does not include the 'Report' button which you said you could see. Has that disappeared for you?

Sorry to get you confused. That was not a screenshot.

Perhaps first teach me how to attach files?:shock: But I can add URL. If you can copy the URL below to your browser, I am sure you can see my screenshot this time.

Reply With Quote ​

 

[Tarheel]

Maybe it's an issue with your browser. I know that those buttons sometimes do not show up for me. Don't worry!

 

[luxury20041985]

Maybe it's an issue with your browser. I know that those buttons sometimes do not show up for me. Don't worry!

However, for me, it never shows up Perhaps someone can tell me which browser works. Then I can try again.

 

[emsr2d2]

Perhaps first teach me how to attach files?:shock:

Take the screenshot.
Put it somewhere on your computer where you can find it easily.
Start a new post.
Click on the "Insert Image" button in the toolbar.
Click on "From computer" at the top.
Click on "Choose File".
Find the screenshot file.
Click on the file name.
Click on "Open".
Click on "Upload file".
It will appear in your post.
Click "Post reply".

 

[luxury20041985]

Take the screenshot. Done
Put it somewhere on your computer where you can find it easily. Done
Start a new post. Done
Click on the "Insert Image" button in the toolbar. Done
Click on "From computer" at the top. Here is the problem. I can only see the below (add from url, no from computer option)

[h=2]Add an Image from Url[/h]Allowed Filetypes: jpg, jpeg, png, gif

URL

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you not see a box like this?