This is the 5733rd most frequent Japanese word.
つつく
"つつく" means "to poke, nudge, or pick at something repeatedly."
The verb 'つつく' is used here to describe the action of a bird pecking repeatedly at the ground.
鳥が地面をつついて虫を探しています。
The bird is pecking at the ground, searching for insects.
The verb 'つつく' is metaphorically used here to describe dissecting or dwelling on a topic, often critically or persistently.
彼は暇になると昔の失敗をつついて話題にする。
When he is bored, he brings up and dwells on past mistakes as a topic.
Here, 'つつく' indicates the physical action of poking repeatedly, emphasizing the potential safety concerns.