piqued my interest
Piqued. Not peaked, not peeked. Three homophones, one right answer.
-
Wrong: That peaked my interest.
Right: That piqued my interest.
Pique means to provoke. Peaked means it hit a maximum and started declining.
-
Wrong: That peeked my interest.
Right: That piqued my interest.
Peek is a quick look.
The three of them
- Pique—to provoke or arouse. From French piquer, to prick or sting. This is the one you want.
- Peak—the top of something. Peaked means it has crested and is now on the way down, which is a strange thing to say about your interest.
- Peek—a quick look.
Bonus
Pique also means irritation—he left in a fit of pique. Same word, same root: something pricked at you.
Now go get pricked by an idea.