> as lemmas

1681 J. Scudamore Homer Alamode: 2nd Pt. 62 Twas well for them the Boar was slain; 'Cause from his Head they might by stealth Pick Brains, for use of Commonwealth.]

1770 C. Burney Jrnl. 25 Oct. in H. E. Poole Music, Men, & Manners France & Italy (1974) 174 I had young Oliver to dine with us to day to pick his brains about conservatorios.

1796 L. Spencer Let. 17 May in J. Bentham Corr. (1981) V. 203 He will be happy to hear your say and to pick your Brains when ever you chuse it.

1838 E. Bulwer-Lytton Alice II. vii. v. 337 His success in picking the brains of Mr. Onslow of a secret, encouraged him.

1873 W. G. Wills Charles I i. 4 Thou art a soothsayer... What need hadst thou for picking my old brains?

1904 R. Harris Auld Acquaintance xx. 131 He picked your brain with the same dexterity that my youthful patrons of other days would have picked your pocket; that is to say, if either of those receptacles had anything in it.

1954 A. Thirkell What did it Mean? 56 There isn't a better man in Barsetshire. We must pick his brains about Starveacres Hatches.

1988 M. Gallant in M. Atwood Best Amer. Stories 1989 (1989) 152 I think he was afraid I might encroach on his idea, try to pick his brain.

2004 Sunday Independent (Ireland) (Nexis) 25 July [She] was superbly well briefed.., so I decided to pick her brains about the secret of Mairtin Tom Sheanin's success.