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单词 pick
释义

pick1

verb pɪkpɪk

  • 1with object Detach and remove (a flower, fruit, or vegetable) from where it is growing.

    I went to pick some flowers for Jenny's room
    Example sentencesExamples
    • It has a mild tranquillising effect, which you can experience by merely picking the flower buds and inhaling their scent.
    • We would buy fresh fruit and pick fresh vegetables from a small garden in the back.
    • There was a man outside cutting wood for fire and a woman picking vegetables and fruits from a garden.
    • Observe your vegetables all summer and pick those for seed that are the best - perhaps in yield, taste, disease resistance, vigour or early ripening.
    • The leaves may also be cooked, which allows slightly older wild plants to be used, but the leaves must always be picked before the plant flowers.
    • The process consists of reselecting the original azalea seeds, sowing them, letting them flower, picking the best and taking cuttings.
    • The warm, earthy smell of freshly picked vegetables used to pervade the whole atmosphere.
    • Local children will be invited to pick the fruit to encourage them to eat a healthy diet.
    • If you want lots of small fruits, keep picking the squashes young.
    • On average they take 120 days to grow, and are picked sooner than regular carrots to preserve tenderness.
    • The week normally starts with the farmers picking their fruit and vegetables on Monday.
    • At the foot of the garden path she found her eldest sister, picking some of the flowers their gardener had allowed to grow wild there.
    • A girl runs frenzied, searching, sometimes stopping briefly to pick some flowers eager but not bright, hopeful and wanting.
    • Organic soups are often comprised of freshly picked vegetables and beans.
    • Flora dropped a pile of freshly picked fruits next to him.
    • Meat and fish were curried or peppered in order to preserve them and we picked the abundant fruit that grew in our garden.
    • What should I do with my autumn-fruiting raspberry plants after I have picked the fruits?
    • A flower vase stood on the table, a few freshly picked flowers inserted in it.
    • I went outside and watered them and picked the fruits and vegetables.
    • When the harvest is ready, children from the estate will be invited to pick the fruit.
    Synonyms
    harvest, gather (in), collect, take in, pluck, pull, dig, crop, reap, bring home
    literary glean, garner, cull
    1. 1.1with object and adverbial Take hold of and lift or move.
      he picked a match out of the ashtray
      picking her up, he carried her from the room
      Example sentencesExamples
      • She collapsed on the couch, and picked the phone receiver up again.
      • He counts to five, then picks the receiver up again.
      • Breathless, I gingerly picked up the two pieces of jewelry, scrutinizing them thoroughly.
      • He left his ball on the green, picked up his bag, and walked back to the parking lot.
      • Kevin moved in for a closer look, then picked one up.
      • He picked his fork up gingerly, signalling the start of the meal, and spoke no more.
      • She quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number as quickly as possible.
      • Too excited to be irritated by her cat, she quickly picked up the phone.
      • I was about to fish out my wallet again when the guy picked up my bag of things.
      • A sensor module in the bag's handle detects when the bag has been picked up, indicating that the owner might be leaving.
      • In pair lifts, one partner picks the other up off the ice and later places that partner back down on it.
      • He quickly picked up the phone and dialed in Jim's pager number.
      • I missed, and as I walked toward my ball, I reached down to pick up my cigarette.
      • Stooping down, he picked up my bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
      • The tracking system uses sensors hidden under Gillette shelves to detect when products are picked up.
      • Grudgingly, I pulled myself out of my chair and walked to the phone, picking it up and putting the receiver to my ear.
      • She carefully picked up her bag, heading for the exit.
      • My mom picked up the book, flipping through the pages.
      • Out in the pond I had fantastic views of a whiskered tern wheeling around and picking food of some sort out of the water.
      • A player picked up the ball and ran him out.
    2. 1.2pick upGolf no object Take hold of and lift up one's ball, especially when conceding a hole.
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He had to putt from three yards to tie when the other player picked up his opponent's ball marker rather than forcing him to putt out.
      • I think a whole lot of amateurs make a big mistake by picking up the ball on the putting green and not putting out.
      • Then he walked to the hole, looked in, reached down and picked up his ball.
      • During a round last fall, he had a 20-foot putt that didn't matter, so I told him to pick up his ball.
      • He looked at me, picked up his ball and returned to the course.

  • 2with object Choose (someone or something) from a number of alternatives.

    maybe I picked the wrong career
    he was picked for the England squad
    no object Maggie picked on a nice reliable chap
    Example sentencesExamples
    • The site picks the wrong musicians to plead its case.
    • Sure being popular would be great, but if I had to choose, I'd pick friendship over popularity anytime.
    • The farmers here are happy to teach how the leaves are chosen and how to pick them - if guests promise to put the leaves to their baskets.
    • It was time to choose and they picked the man who would fight.
    • We just picked the wrong people to wield the power.
    • She picked two people to chose their teams, and as predicted, I was chosen last.
    • You did the wrong thing and you definitely picked the wrong person to do it with.
    • There certainly are a number of candidates to choose from when picking the players most likely to come through in key situations.
    • Also, maybe I was picking the wrong options in conversations but there was a lot that never got properly explained to me.
    • Thereafter, he seemed to have an unerring knack for picking the wrong script.
    • They were given a free hand in picking the characters and choosing how they should be depicted.
    • Voters would choose from one candidate picked by the prime minister and 200 others nominated at random from the electoral roll.
    • They had, it seemed, picked the wrong person to do it.
    • With such a distinguished cast to choose from, they picked the wrong man.
    • The options for this include picking specific cities, metropolitan areas, or even a distance radius from a specific point.
    • Sabrina had chosen carefully when she picked her school.
    • The other girl asked him to choose and he picked her.
    • More importantly when women have the chance to pick a director for a project or help to influence who gets chosen, they pick a man.
    • Alternatively, people pick the first option available to them simply because it's there.
    • Would it be safe to send them to the islands I mentioned or have they picked the wrong time of year to travel down there?
    Synonyms
    choose, select, pick out, single out, include, hand-pick, decide on, settle on, fix on
    sift out, sort out, take, prefer, favour, opt for, plump for, vote for, elect, name, nominate, adopt, designate, assign, appoint, allot, identify, specify, mention, cite
    choose, select, pick, single out, hand-pick, decide on, settle on, fix on
    sift out, sort out, take, prefer, favour, opt for, plump for, vote for, elect, name, nominate, adopt, designate, assign, appoint, allot, identify, specify, mention, cite
    1. 2.1pick one's waywith adverbial of direction Walk slowly and carefully, selecting the best places to put one's feet.
      he picked his way along the track, avoiding the potholes
      Example sentencesExamples
      • She was carefully picking her way through driftwood and garbage.
      • Spotting it, I fell into a low crouch, picking my way slowly over holes and roots.
      • To tackle the nose and descend the north ridge, negotiate a rocky corner, then carefully pick your way down, keeping left to avoid difficulties.
      • He picked his way carefully through the ferns and knotted roots, focused eyes always straight ahead.
      • Without another word, the four strange and unlikely companions set off on foot, picking their way carefully through the field.
      • I slowly picked my way through the darkened streets until I was at the front door of Jason's hut.
      • He turned and fled in terror, bumping and scraping several times against the walls he had picked his way along so carefully before.
      • I waited for a break in the steady stream of visitors and set off, head down, picking my way slowly and carefully across.
      • I have to say that it is a pretty nasty sight, where one has to pick one's way carefully to avoid the mess they leave behind.
      • When I could walk again I started picking my way down the ridge, stopping a lot, staying on the trail.
      • They carefully picked their way down the ruined staircase and into the basement floor.
      • His eyes widened as he saw Claire carefully picking her way around the chatting students and onto the bridge.
      • It was a case of slowly picking our way down steep hillside, occasionally dislodging small rocks which bounced and rolled to the bush below.
      • She smiles as she pays the driver and picks her way carefully through the puddles.
      • They picked their way carefully across the road and stepped inside the warm, dry cathedral, pulling the doors closed behind them.
      • She walked into the living room, picking her way carefully through the darkness.
      • I picked my way carefully through the mess and strained to see the new arrival in our backyard.
      • The two men slowly picked their way through the snow-covered trees and rocks.
      • They were picking their way slowly along the gravel of the stream bed.
      • She continued to creep down the hillside, carefully picking her way down.

  • 3no object Repeatedly pull at something with one's fingers.

    the old woman was picking at the sheet
    Example sentencesExamples
    • Andrew pulled her hand into his to stop her from picking at the bodice of her dress.
    • A girl with blonde curly hair was sitting swinging her legs and picking at her fingers.
    • She just sat there, looking down and quietly picking at the skin around her fingernails.
    • She shifts on her bed, and starts picking at the loose stitching on her bedspread.
    • Flushing, Vicki smiled and lowered her gaze, picking at the nail of her smallest finger on her left hand.
    • His fingers were picking at a thread on my quilt.
    • She looked down, avoiding eye contact as she brought her hands up, fiddling with her fingers and picking at her newly painted fingernails.
    • She was picking at the scabs and forcing her fingers in her ears.
    • Shrugging, Vicki lowered her gaze to her fingers picking at a tattered section of knee on her jeans.
    • My fingers started picking at my chipped black nail polish and I kept my eyes down, concentrating on the paint chipping.
    • He looked at his fingers again, picking at the calluses on his left hand.
    • The drunk was picking at one of his pockets, he had pulled it inside out.
    • Holly shrugged, picking at her long, pale purple finger nails.
    • I paced back and forth in the bedroom, fretting and picking at the skin around my fingernails.
    • Morgan watched her as she fiddled with the corner of her notebook, picking at it with her small fingers…
    • Before she knew it, Stephanie was sitting in a taxi cab, picking at her long fingernails nervously.
    • She scrunched up her face and began picking at her fingernails.
    • In my eight months away she'd become careworn, picking nervously at her fingers as she spoke, palpably lacking the confidence she once had.
    • She looked down at the table, her fingers picking at the white material on it.
    • ‘I'm not scared, I'm not proud,’ she says, eyes down, picking at the glittery design on her skirt.
    1. 3.1with object Make (a hole) in fabric by pulling at it with one's fingers.
      she picked a hole in her tights
      Example sentencesExamples
      • My sister picked a hole in her navy school tights as we sat and listened.
      • Somebody, at one point, had carefully picked a hole in the fabric, leaving a peephole to the room.
    2. 3.2 Eat food in small amounts or without much appetite.
      she picked at her breakfast
      Example sentencesExamples
      • She stared at her food, picked at it a bit, and then stood up.
      • Silently, I picked at my food, nibbling on it mindlessly.
      • I picked at my food, my entire appetite deserting me after the first few mouthfuls.
      • I nodded and picked at the food that was set in front of me.
      • She seemed distracted, not fully listening to him, and she picked at her food.
      • I wasn't very hungry so I just picked at my food, barely nibbling on it.
      • I picked at my food numbly as my mind tried to assess the situation.
      • His mother would place a bowl of bright red cherries or shiny pistachios before us and we picked at the food as we chatted lazily.
      • He picked at his food, not in the mood to eat anymore.
      • Julie picked at the small amount of food she had put on her plate.
      • ‘I just can't do it,’ Andy was complaining later, as he picked at his food with his fork.
      • Matt picked at his food, not noticing the worried looks his mother shot him.
      • She took another sip of her wine, and picked at her food.
      • Andrew could tell that his wife was nervous, possibly even more nervous than he was, because she didn't say anything and only picked at her food.
      • The other young ladies picked at their food, eating little.
      • She picked at the food but it tasted like ash in her mouth.
      • She took a bit of food and picked at it, eating little bits.
      • Then finally she sat down and picked at her food.
      • Aimée sat between him and Brett and picked at her food, nervous about all that was about to happen although more confident now that she had friends with her.
      • Suze picked at her Thai food, and looked at the assembled table with her deep eyes.
      Synonyms
      nibble, peck, eat listlessly, toy with, play with, take very small bites from, push one's food around (on) one's plate, eat like a bird, show no appetite for, eat sparingly of
    3. 3.3with object Remove unwanted matter from (one's nose or teeth) by using one's finger or a pointed instrument.
      he picked his teeth with a matchstick
      Example sentencesExamples
      • There is reference, as well, to nose picking, a subject commonly avoided in media.
      • The most disgusting thing I encounter is waiters picking their noses or cutting their fingers.
      • This included advice about regular hand washing, warnings about crowded places, and the dangers of nose picking.
      • Gone are the days when he insisted, ‘if my nose needs picking, I'll pick it even if the cameras are on me’.
      • And never lick your fingers, pick your teeth, or floss at the table.
      • These range from lack of concentration, shyness and disobedience to nose picking and whining.
      • Acne cream and nose picking is not attractive these days.
      • I injured my index finger while picking my nose.
      • Avoid nose blowing, rubbing, or picking while your nose is healing.
      • He idly picked his nose and then a large spot on his chin that was troubling him.
      • For example, a child who picks his or her nose may be uncomfortable because he or she has actually stuck an object in the nose.
      • My nephew Trevor is three, and he's a big fan of nose picking.
      • I have read your letter many times, trying to find the turning point in this relationship, and keep coming back to the nose picking.
      • Habits such as nail biting, hair twirling, thumb-sucking and nose picking are common and stop naturally in most children by the time they reach junior school.
      • The bleeding should stop and not start again, unless your nose is knocked or picked.
    4. 3.4 Criticize someone in a petty way.
      don't start picking at Ruth
      Example sentencesExamples
      • I guess if you wanted to pick at him, you could say he still takes it upon himself to do too many things.
      • But I'm more mad than sad - mad at the press for its relentless picking at her faults while too often giving her opponent a softer ride.
      • As he engages with the merciless classmates who rag him and pick at him every day, he imagines himself in computer graphics in the armour of the warrior.
      • But Ruben liked to pick and pick at her until she exploded so he could turn around and call her childish.
      • The moment Wayne walked in the door, the pretty-faced little man started right in picking at him.

  • 4with object Pluck the strings of (a guitar or banjo)

    people were singing and picking guitars
    Example sentencesExamples
    • Other bands have done the single string picking coupled with power chords (for emphasis, of course).
    • Quiet strums and broken, stammering chords suddenly twist into intense breaks of almost classical Spanish guitar and deep south string picking.
    • The orchestration then slowly fades out save the gentle guitar picking.
    • Take, for instance, the building repetition of the guitar picking of ‘Back to Mali’.
    • The Chorus to this number relies on an atmospheric down shift of guitar picking and total distortion.
    • The first time I heard his exact guitar picking and gentle voice I was hooked; the sophistication and pop sensibility of his songs left me fuzzy-warm.
    • Velvety vocals, sung with tenderly picked guitars and gently played piano occasionally accompanied by some harsh brass made this record.
    • This time Rory gets to show off his fine guitar picking.
    • He is bluesy; his guitar picking is flawless; his lyrics and melodies are touchingly funny.
    • With soft acoustic picking of the guitar behind it, it's a passionate cry for support and help.
    • He says his fingers are holding up pretty good after a lifetime of guitar picking and strumming, so he may remain on the road for a few years yet.
    • ‘Amnesia’ features some great guitar picking from Nicholls over a perfect lazy groove.
    • As we came to our first town, he suddenly started picking some demonically fast banjo.
    • In its third section, the piece lands into a melancholy return with a re-established tonic and some layered guitar/autoharp picking.
    • On the album, the guitar picking is so precise that it demands that every painstakingly plucked note be closely listened to.
    Synonyms
    strum, twang, thrum, pluck, finger
noun pɪkpɪk

  • 1in singular An act or the right of selecting something from a number of alternatives.

    take your pick from our extensive menu
    Laura should have first pick
    Example sentencesExamples
    • The audience will also get the chance to judge the films and to select their favourite pick for the viewer's choice award.
    • You share brief, frugal meals with the monks in the refectory, then it's back to your cell to pray - for salvation, inspiration, or deliverance, take your pick.
    • There you can take your pick from an intensive 12-week course, as well as five- and one-day basic sushi classes.
    • You can take your pick - lawyers, police or reporters.
    • You are free, I guess, to take your pick in relation to these and similar options.
    • We could take our pick of the brightest minds on earth.
    • We just walk out to the freezer in the garage and take our pick.
    • Take your pick when it comes to student politics today.
    • Meanwhile, if you want to ring the changes with sandwiches you make at home, then take your pick from this delicious recipe selection.
    • Of course, you must match your seat covers to your dash cover, so take your pick from a wide choice of seat covers, which come in a variety of fabrics and colors.
    • You can either help me get over it or you have the option to divorce me, take your pick.
    • Take your pick and go ahead and exchange the old one.
    • Moto-cross, skate or snowboarding - take your pick - the look is very similar, if not the same.
    • They told me, through an interpreter, to take my pick.
    • Mains include turbot in a langoustine and scallop sauce and monkfish kebabs, or take your pick from the hefty choice of daily specials.
    • Take your pick, but either way it's quite irrational.
    • Take your pick from a seaweed wrap, salt loofah body buff, Swedish massage, aromatherapy, mineral bath, and more.
    • The tourist in search of adventures can take his pick.
    • We were then invited to take our pick from a choice of starters.
    • Take your pick from a home cooked Devonshire morning tea for $5 or a delicious roast beef lunch for $15, or both!
    Synonyms
    choice, selection, option, decision
    preference, favourite
    1. 1.1the pick ofinformal The person or thing perceived as the best in a group.
      he was the pick of the bunch
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The anchor man's propensity to select the correct pass at all times once more saw him stand out as the pick of City's trialists before his half-time substitution.
      • Champagne is the pick of the crop in the wine market.
      • The Bar team is made up of the pick of their elite golfers.
      • The stand-off was the pick of the team, kicking two penalties and converting their try after a concerted drive by the forwards.
      • In all honesty, he is probably the pick of a bad bunch.
      • Jack is the pick of a sorry bunch with six goals in 35 central defensive appearances.
      • He was the pick of the performers last season at half-back and stood out as one of the better players in a team that has taken a battering week-in and week-out.
      • His production of John Marston's 1603 tragi-comedy is not, for me, the pick of the bunch.
      • Her rooms were decorated with every sort of fabric you could think of and she had the pick of the jewels of England as well.
      • The gold plated acrylic idol of ‘Happy Man’ carrying a gunny bag full of treasure, and depicting prosperity, was the pick of the lots.
      Synonyms
      best, finest, top, choice, choicest, prime, cream, flower, prize, treasure, pearl, gem, jewel, the jewel in the crown, the crème de la crème, elite, elect
      informal the tops
    2. 1.2 Someone or something that has been selected.
      the club made him their first pick
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The said he was their pick because he took an airline that was losing money and made it profitable.
      • The Rays called across the bay on Tuesday to tell him he was their pick in the third round of the amateur draft.
      • When the co-ordinators at the Miss World Canada pageant called her to tell her she was their pick, she was ecstatic and surprised.
      • "As soon as they opened the case and charged him, he was their pick and there was no suggestion of letting off."
      • It seems that the judges were rather parsimonious with their scores, but by giving her the highest scores, it was clear that she was their pick for the title.

  • 2Basketball
    An act of blocking or screening a defensive player from the ball handler.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • One of the final areas of movement without the ball is that of coming off of picks.
    • In this example, the offense sends a big player up to set a pick near the free throw line.
    • If the ball handler brings the defender wide around the pick, its not the screener's fault.
    • At the same time the low man on ball side also goes away from the ball to set a pick.
    • In the triangle, players don't set picks off the ball.

Phrases

  • pick and choose

    • Select only the best from a number of alternatives.

      he could pick and choose from the world's most beautiful women
      Example sentencesExamples
      • But he still liked the idea of being the guy who gets to pick and choose among a bevy of beauties.
      • A leading connoisseur of bottled water last night advised consumers to pick and choose between bottled and mains water.
      • He also said it would be discriminatory to limit the number of fêtes to be held in the area or to pick and choose between fete venues.
      • Visitors will be able to pick and choose from the hundreds of available careers and training opportunities.
      • People can now pick and choose between a wide range of ways of getting fit.
      • They will be able to pick and choose where they operate, while Royal Mail is obliged to keep its universal postal system up and running.
      • It just happens - whatever comes out comes out and then we pick and choose.
      • We had to sign up to the agreement, we couldn't pick and choose.
      • She couldn't pick and choose when it was convenient to be with me.
      • Obviously, you have to pick and choose what works for you, but here are the things that I have found really helped me along the way.

  • pick someone's brains (or brain)

    • informal Obtain information by questioning someone who is better informed about a subject than oneself.

      mind if I pick your brain for a minute?
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He waited 13 years between making his first short film and his second, but that wouldn't happen today, when people with ideas sit beside him on the bus and start picking his brains.
      • I want to pick your brain on some other issues of the day first.
      • I tried to pick their brains for any better solutions on how to go about changing the law or simply fixing my own problem.
      • The quiz master joined us and we tried to pick his brain about where he gets his questions from.
      • ‘They may be coming to see us,’ she laughs, ‘but I'll certainly take the opportunity to pick their brains.’
      • They send us questionnaires to pick our brains.
      • Thanks for being so kind and letting me pick your brain.
      • Since I was not even remotely interested in purchasing comics, I spent the next hour picking his brain.
      • He knew the business side so I picked his brain on that subject.
      • We picked their brains about the impact on soaring house prices, and the damage caused by the North / South divide.

  • pick something clean

    • Completely remove the flesh from a bone or carcass.

      the vultures had picked the bones clean
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Once the bird is picked clean, boil up the carcass, then throw in a handful or two of barley and some vegetables and revel in the glorious Christmassy smells of turkey broth filling the whole house.
      • Most of the humanoid skeletons had been picked clean, but they hadn't had time to bleach white.
      • His wife picked the bone clean and gave the rest to the cat.
      • She only realised it was a hedgehog a day or two later, once they'd picked the skeleton clean.
      • I lost all decorum of table etiquette as I held the chop between my fingers and picked the bone clean.
      • My friend thoroughly enjoyed the meal, since he practically picked the bone clean.
      • Flying scavengers have picked the bone clean.
      • The Variant Cs would pick his bones clean in several hours.
      • The Witch opened the oven, gobbled up Alyonka and picked the bone clean.
      • Stone Age communities sometimes exposed their dead instead of burying them and ravens picked the bones clean.

  • pick one's feet up

    • Raise one's feet clear of the ground when walking.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • A friend saw it happen and said the horse just never picked his feet up, even though he looked ready to jump it right in stride.
      • He picked his feet up neatly and high, stepping smartly as if he was on parade or being displayed before a panel of judges.
      • Walking is easier if you keep your feet facing forwards and pick your feet up with every step you take.
      • With little else to do she picked her feet up, one after the other, and trudged towards the sound that grew gratifyingly louder as she came closer to its source.
      • She picked her feet up as she walked. Just as she had been raised.

  • pick a fight (or quarrel)

    • Talk or behave in such a way as to provoke a fight or argument.

      it wasn't in his nature to pick a fight with anyone
      Example sentencesExamples
      • ‘Sometimes he just almost seems to pick a fight with people for the sake of picking a fight, and I don't think that can be very helpful,’ he says.
      • One of her neighbours has said: ‘She's picked a fight with everybody around here.’
      • ‘If they want to pick a fight, they've picked a fight with the wrong guy,’ he said in a telephone interview.
      • I think one of the reasons why I rarely, if ever, actually pick a fight or argument is because I play the scene out inside my head before I do anything.
      • I believe that she finally came to the conclusion that if she ever picked a fight with me, she was fighting a losing battle.
      • Instead of picking a fight with his party, he has been forced to adopt a tone we have never heard from him before.
      • At another time, the commission would not dare to pick a quarrel with the president over such a trifle matter.
      • If we'd have been in the city, I'd have thought maybe he was picking a fight, but we were in the country and this was just a good-natured country fellow who had a few beers in him.
      • I don't know what kind of trouble police were expecting, but I can't see any of these kids picking a fight with anyone at this point, let alone cops with guns.
      • Her husband picks a fight with her if she seems to be happy, he shouts at her, criticises everything about her, distorts and twists things, and cannot abide her having any kind of friendships - even with her own family.
      Synonyms
      provoke, start, cause, incite, invite, foment, stir up, whip up, encourage, kindle, instigate, excite, prompt, bring about

  • pick holes in

    • Find fault with.

      it's really not too difficult to pick holes in the plan
      Example sentencesExamples
      • It often takes the form of undermining colleagues or junior employees by constant criticism, unfairly picking holes in their work or raising objections just for the sake of it.
      • It's hard to pick holes in his form and he is a worthy favourite.
      • What is wrong with us that we need to pick holes in even the most successful initiatives instead of praising them for their success?
      • My stuff was so hard to pick holes in, however, that almost all of it did eventually get published somewhere in the academic journals.
      • ‘Once you get into the swing of auditions, you start to realise it's possible to pick holes in almost anything,’ he grins.
      • Mistrustful regulators are picking holes in healthy companies.
      • Anyway, my intention wasn't to pick holes in individual campaigns, but to celebrate the richness and diversity of the political landscape.
      • The only thing I'd say is that picking holes in the pro-case is a necessary part of building the anti-case.
      • It sometimes seems that whenever anyone proposes a forward-looking project that seems able to benefit a community and the country as a whole, a host of people and organisations rush to pick holes in the plan.
      • This is exactly the kind of product that professional art historians dislike, and I do not doubt that various specialists will pick holes in it.
      Synonyms
      find fault with, quarrel with, fault, criticize, argue against, argue with, take exception to, attack, take issue with, find lacking, impugn, contradict, dispute, rebut, complain about, cavil at, carp at, object to, be hostile to
      find fault with, criticize, attack, condemn

  • pick a lock

    • Open a lock with an instrument other than the proper key.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • The posters pictured a person crouched down, picking a lock, and a woman making an emergency call.
      • For example, regardless of how good a thief you are, you need more equipment than a small piece of metal to pick a lock.
      • She thanked her high school boyfriend for teaching her how to pick a lock when a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.
      • One of the first lessons that the agents learned was that you didn't pick a lock - instead you manipulated or pushed the lock back, using a protractor.
      • Using the screwdriver wasn't the most stylish way to pick a lock, but it got the job done.
      • It's a simple matter to pick a lock and get in through the window, emerging in an unoccupied bedroom.
      • If a person picks a lock that belongs to someone else, chances are the person will be arrested and face serious breaking-and-entering charges.
      • A lock doesn't even slow down a criminal; few would take the time to pick a lock.
      • She looked around for anything that could be used to pick a lock.
      • I think he would probably employ professionals, people who would have no problem picking a lock on a cell.
      Synonyms
      force open, break open, prise open, open without a key, break into

  • pick someone's pockets

    • Steal something surreptitiously from someone's pocket.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • I may also pick his pockets while he's talking about himself and how awesome he is.
      • They have effectively picked our pockets in full view of us and we can't do a thing!
      • Certainly it gave her lots of time to pick their pockets.
      • You just said that we were going to pick their pockets, not con them.
      • I let his hands roam, explore, the knife having disappeared once more, probably back into his pocket, but I didn't dare try picking his pockets to get it back this time, not after just having succeeded in distracting him from a tantrum.
      • If you want to be more cautious though, you might want to keep your cash in your pockets while traveling so that at least you'll have some cash handy in case someone picks your pockets.
      • He would pick their pockets and swipe their watches without them noticing - always owning up afterwards, of course.
      • Ken, when will you learn that Alex never stops picking your pockets?
      • He is prepared to hug us and take us by the hand - not to mention theatrically attempting to pick our pockets.

  • pick someone/something to pieces (or apart)

    • Criticize someone or something severely.

      I knew that some people would pick the album apart
      Example sentencesExamples
      • I could spend more time picking his column apart, but I won't because I think you get my general point.
      • I love the people who write reviews and pick it apart and haven't even seen the film.
      • The story is so distressing that it is not at first clear whether it is moral or useful to pick it apart.
      • Once you start picking things apart, you'll never solve the problem.
      • Ok, so I don't really feel like picking this story apart right now.
      • Let's embrace her instead of picking her apart.
      • We surveyed him, and he picked the questions to pieces.
      • It's human nature to pick people apart and you're under all this scrutiny.
      • I quite enjoy picking advertisements to pieces and I suspect a lot of other people do too.
      • Silenced by infirmity, if not by simple good taste, the former leader has had to stand aside while her legacy is picked apart.

  • pick up the pieces

    • Restore one's life or a situation to a more normal state after a shock or disaster.

      I've spent the last four years trying to pick up the pieces!
      Example sentencesExamples
      • With mother hospitalised through the shock, Zoe is left to pick up the pieces.
      • His latest post will, in many ways, be about picking up the pieces to restore public confidence in social services.
      • These are two crashes that didn't need to happen and now the families are picking up the pieces.
      • It was wonderful, we were picking up the pieces of our lives again.
      • Now justice has been done they must try to pick up the pieces of their lives - knowing that one piece will be missing for ever.
      • Thousands of hours of consular time are spent picking up the pieces after easily avoidable accidents.
      • As a nation painfully picks up the pieces of its shattered character, its people know they have a while to go before they eventually heal from years of pain and abuse.
      • What happens when a people have been ‘saved'. Who picks up the pieces?
      • Why would someone else not have picked up the pieces in that situation?
      • Many women are forced into this situation and I see their lives and I help them pick up the pieces.

  • pick up the threads

    • Resume something that has been interrupted.

      to pick up the threads of work he had done fifteen years ago was a Herculean task
      Example sentencesExamples
      • You will, with the help of your parents, pick up the threads when you are released.
      • How do you pick up the threads of an old life, when you know in your heart, it will never be the same again.
      • We will pick up the threads of things that were done well in the last government.
      • He can now look forward to picking up the threads of his life having, to repeat his mother's words been ‘given the gift of life’.
      • You have to be able to remember where you were so you can pick up the threads and continue after an interruption.
      • Despite destroyed homes and broken lives, the women have picked up the threads of their trade.
      • It was two years before she began to pick up the threads of her life.
      • They visited some of the worst affected areas; they heard the stories from women who did not know how they would pick up the threads of their lives again.
      • So, we are slowly picking up the threads of our ‘normal’ lives although I confess I do feel as if I need a vacation from my vacation.
      • Physically battered with no support, she picked up the threads of her life, working as a teacher in a private school.

Phrasal Verbs

  • pick someone/something off

    • 1Shoot a member of a group, aiming carefully from a distance.

      the soldiers were picked off by snipers
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The flames of war burned brighter than ever within this divided family as one by one the members were picked off.
      • As many civilians tried to leave the city, they were picked off by snipers.
      • John squinted at the rusty cans, deciding which one to shoot first, and picked them off one by one.
      • Hardy's men were shooting down on the soldiers, picking them off one by one.
      • At the peak of the insurrection, the defenders ran out of tear gas, and snipers began attempts to pick them off.
      • And see if you can guess the order in which the other members of the research team will be picked off and which characters will make it to the end credits.
      • Towards the middle of the game you will find yourself sneaking around, picking the enemy off from a distance, or using items to distract your opponents.
      • The snipers would pick you off but they are afraid to hit the little girl you are hiding in front of you.
      • One by one they were picked off by the fell poison tipped arrows until it was just Dr. Steve.
      • The enemies are kind enough to walk one behind another in a straight line, making it easy to pick them off with sniper rifles.
      Synonyms
      shoot, shoot down, gun down, fire at, hit, put a bullet in
      1. 1.1Put out a runner by throwing the ball to a base.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • In a game at Tropicana Field last season between the Twins and Devil Rays, three Devil Ray base runners were picked off in one inning!
        • His first pass of the game was picked off by Atlanta on Sunday, giving the Falcons momentum.
        • His arm is a strength - he not only shuts down basestealers but can pick runners off first base.
        • Also, what if the pitcher picks the runner off base before he makes his first pitch to home?
        • He was known as the ‘computer’ of the team, possessing an uncanny ability to pick runners off of second base via the ‘hidden ball trick.’

  • pick on

    • Repeatedly single (someone) out for criticism or unkind treatment in a way perceived to be unfair.

      no one is picking on you—we're trying to help
      pick on someone your own size!
      Example sentencesExamples
      • I always found it was appalling when an older kid bullied or picked on someone younger.
      • Like playground bullies, they've picked on the weakest of the pack.
      • Why everyone picks on the poor fellow just because he is not highly adept at running his personal finances, I cannot understand.
      • We have known each other since the fourth grade, when she helped me fight off a bully who was picking on me in the public park.
      • They argue with each other, pick on, insult and criticise each other, and they have fun doing it as well.
      • Bullies pick on children who are alone, so can you encourage your child to make more friends and to bring them home?
      • Andy, the youngest of three sons, was a very shy child who was picked on by bullies at school.
      • I was always quite fat as a child, I used to get teased about it and picked on.
      • Madison's been telling me a little boy in her class has been picking on her, teasing her.
      • ‘If someone picks on me I just ignore them and think ‘I'm better than you are’.
      Synonyms
      bully, victimize, tyrannize, torment, persecute

  • pick someone/something out

    • 1Distinguish someone or something from a group.

      Lester picked out two familiar voices
      Example sentencesExamples
      • ‘I feel a bit vulnerable to be honest, because I haven't had any experience of the media,’ she says, ‘and even before we'd spoken to anyone they'd already sort of picked us out and slated us.’
      • In November, the victim picked the robber out of a video identification parade.
      • Now they are checking identity cards, bags and can pick people out for interrogation.
      • He made no comment when questioned but the victim picked him out in an identity parade.
      • She picked him out from his many siblings, including a twin brother, adopted him in secrecy and raised him in a life of privilege and safety.
      • She says: ‘I think murals are very educational for a child because from a young age they can pick things out on the mural and identify them.’
      • I heard his name, but I'd never be able to pick him out of a crowd.
      • But both girls picked him out of an identity parade.
      • But the selective pointillism that picks it out identifies an essential pre-requisite for effective political action.
      • But an eyewitness to the attack picked him out after a video identification procedure.
      Synonyms
      see, discern, spot, distinguish, perceive, make out, detect, notice, observe, recognize, identify, catch sight of, glimpse, discover
      1. 1.1(of a light) illuminate an object by shining directly on it.
        the car's headlights picked out a road sign and she swung left
        Example sentencesExamples
        • It was weak at such a distance, but strong enough that its light picked them out. Gunfire followed immediately.
        • He reached the middle just as a beam of strong light picked him out and he stood, dazzled, in the headlights of a long black limo.
        • The powerful beans of light picked her out against the black, wet side of the cliff.
        • "The light picked her out dramatically from the blurry dark background," he writes.
        • Again he came down past us, this time closer to the boat, and the light picked him out just below the surface.
        • The light picked her out as she stopped to slide her fingers through the grass and then moved slowly across the plaza toward the public fountain.
        • A dim light picked her out, revealing a very female figure clad in a sort of ribbon-robe and eye-mask.
        • I asked him how he was caught and he told me that although he walked very small steps, every few metres dropping down into the grass, suddenly a small plane landed and picked him out in its lights.
        • The trios move in alternation as light from above picks them out, the grounded people waving their limbs like neophyte swimmers or fledglings learning to fly.
        • Other scars were older, old enough to have become no more than silvery lines, hard to see until the shifting light picked them out, like the teardrop-shaped scar under her eye.
      2. 1.2Highlight or accentuate something from its surroundings by painting or fashioning it in a contrasting colour or medium.
        the initials are picked out in diamonds
        Example sentencesExamples
        • The fuel tank was painted the same light blue as the wings with the retaining straps picked out in red to match the chassis.
        • The cypher on the reverse is picked out in diamonds and dated 1911.
        • The residents' lounge is furnished and decorated in keeping with its Victorian image, the plaster rosette on the ceiling is picked out in gold leaf, fawn and white.
        • The elaborate metalwork of the handsome old bridges spanning the river is picked out in brilliant colours.
        • The basic color is a dark blue, the incised patterns being picked out in red, white, green, and yellow.
        • The ornate plasterwork ceiling had lines and flowers picked out in gold leaf and deep red.
        • Only the shields are picked out with carefully selected colours.
        • His watch was large and methodical, and on the outer case two hearts were picked out in diamonds from the dark solid gold.
        • The V for Victoria is picked out in diamonds, R for Regina in pearls and I for Imperatrix in turquoises.
        • An MG badge was cast in each cam cover at the front, with the letters and the octagon picked out in red.

    • 2Play a tune on a musical instrument slowly or with difficulty.

      she began to pick out a rough melody on the guitar
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He hung up and went back into the basement studio and picked up a guitar and picked out a melody that had been playing around in the back of his head for the last few hours.
      • Maybelle picked out a melody on the bass strings with her thumb, while she used the index finger of the same hand to brush up and down across the higher strings, combining both chords and rhythm.
      • She started picking a gentle tune out of the instrument, the rich melody spiraling into the mild night air.
      • At just four years of age she began to pick out tunes she heard on the radio on the family's Baby Grand Piano.
      • At home, Roberta's father repaired an old upright piano, and she began to pick out tunes while sitting on her mother's lap.

  • pick something over (or pick through)

    • Sort through a number of items carefully.

      they picked through the charred remains of their home
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Papers were scattered over its surface as if they had been picked over to find a single piece of information.
      • She was certain news of her sudden sickness would reach the ears of the girls who had threatened her, and every little detail would be picked over, scrutinized even, to see if she had in any way flirted with or made a move on Mike.
      • Of course, this was an era before counselling, before lawyers picked over the details of disaster.
      • While he has been quite hazy about his history of drug use, the danger of being more precise is that the details could be picked over ad nauseam.
      • Once the anorak-wearing fraternity have picked it over for factual errors, the debate will start over who has been left out.
      • There it is picked over for anything reusable and the remains incinerated.
      • Such problems have been picked over regularly by all and sundry, including this paper.
      • Usually the high and low end of size range will only be available because the merchandise is picked over.
      • Following their return to the apartment, they had picked over the details of the attack, but succeeded in merely unravelling things further.
      • They had been friends since they were seven, they didn't need to talk incessantly not to mention the events of the weekend had been picked over in detail on the phone the night before anyway.

  • pick up

    • 1Become better; improve.

      my luck's picked up
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Tourism started off a bit slow this year, but picked up as the summer progressed.
      • But it does not expect an improvement until trade starts picking up towards the end of the winter.
      • As a result, if the economy is to improve, investment must pick up.
      • General sales need to pick up before the business improves.
      • We have trained for summer rugby and our performances have improved since the weather picked up.
      • So if the input base of the economy is improving and working hours have been increasing then surely the rate of productivity improvement in Scotland must be picking up?
      • Managers often become sentimental about products, hoping that sales will pick up when the market improves.
      • He doesn't see improvement until job growth picks up.
      • Exports are expected to pick up, reflecting recovery in the eurozone economies, the country's main export market.
      • Consequently, the economy will not be able to pick up without the recovery of the banking industry.
      Synonyms
      improve, get better, recover, mend, be on the road to recovery, rally, make a comeback, bounce back, perk up, look up, take a turn for the better, turn a corner, turn the corner, be given on a new lease of life, be take on a new lease of life, be on the mend, develop, make headway, progress, make progress, advance
      1. 1.1Become stronger; increase.
        the wind has picked up
        Example sentencesExamples
        • That evening the blizzard picks up again, with strong winds blowing snow across the flat delta.
        • Even stronger winds are expected to pick up over the weekend.
        • Treetops danced back and forth in the sky as the wind picked up in intensity, a sure sign of an impending storm.
        • I noticed the wind picking up and the lightening increasing, so I figured rain couldn't be far behind.
        • As if to prove his point, a slightly stronger wind picked up, blowing Caelyn's hair into her face.
        • Forecasters are predicting that the icy conditions will continue into next week with easterly winds picking up and a strong possibility of snow.
        • A strong wind picks up almost knocking me off the branch, as well as making leaves whip at my face.
        • The wind had picked up strength, thumping hard against the window every couple of minutes.
        • As the pace of the storm increased the wind picked up, driving down out of the hills and across the high grasslands.
        • The dewy grasses fluttered around Ryan as a stronger wind picked up and ripped them from the hill.
        Synonyms
        get stronger, strengthen, become more powerful, blow up

    • 2Answer a telephone call.

      let the machine pick up and return the call later
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Let the machine pick up the calls, and only answer if it's me or Denny.
      • He dialed the number, but it only rang, no one answered and the answering machine didn't pick up.
      • I wish she had let the answering machine pick up and answer.
      • I had my hands full, so I wasn't able to answer before the voicemail picked up.
      • Without another thought, she sprinted to answer it, just before the answering machine picked up.
      • Rowena set her pen down, pushed back her chair, and managed to answer before the machine picked up.
      • It rings and rings, before eventually the answer phone picks up.
      • But on the fifth ring, before the answering machine picked up, Tatiana answered.
      • As he slowly reached for the phone, he stopped himself once the answer machine picked up.
      • Vacillating between wanting to answer, and not wanting to answer, she finally picked up before the machine did.

  • pick oneself up

    • Stand up again after a fall.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • And then again, he finally picks himself up, only to fall again.
      • ‘Not funny’ Jonathon grumbled, picking himself up and straightening out.
      • She fell but picked herself up just as quickly, continuing to shove her way through in anxiety, ignoring their angry yelps and hollers.
      • I picked myself up and straightened my clothes.
      • However, he quickly picked himself up and the ball fell kindly into his path once again.
      • She picked herself up and straightened out her jacket and shirt, she felt in the pocket and pulled out her cigarettes.
      • You'll learn the basics, including turning, stopping, adjusting your bindings and, of course, picking yourself up when you fall.
      • Once, she fell and couldn't pick herself up but I dragged her nonetheless.
      • If he fell, he picked himself up and got straight back on to the climb.
      • But it doesn't seem to matter - when they fall they simply pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get straight back on, just as you're supposed to.

  • pick someone up

    • 1Go somewhere to collect someone, typically in one's car.

      will you pick the children up from school?
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The school was nearby and they picked me up for training a few days later.
      • She came all the way to pick you up from training.
      • With the weather like this, I didn't mind why my parents didn't pick me up from my bus stop today.
      • I tell you what, you can pick me up from the train station at about half past six, OK?
      • The time Carla picked me up from the train station in my mother's manual car, even though at that stage she could only drive an automatic.
      • But what's to stop her from just picking us up at the hotel?
      • Renae's parents picked her up from the train station at 6'o'clock in the evening to take her home.
      • I don't even remember picking you up from the train station!
      • Archer picks her up from the train station, and they talk in the carriage about the impossibility of their love.
      • My aunt lives there, and my grandma is trying to arrange for her to pick me up from the train station.
      Synonyms
      fetch, collect, go to get, come and get, go and get, call for, come for, go for
      1. 1.1Stop for someone to board a train, boat, etc.
        they were picked up by a passing ship
        Example sentencesExamples
        • As most of the hotels are on the waterfront, the boats will pick you up from the jetty behind yours and drop you back.
        • The taxi passed through the main drinking area, and people were literally throwing themselves on the bonnet of the car to try and force it to stop and pick them up.
        • If you hail another type of cab and it stops to pick you up, then your journey in that cab will not be covered by insurance.
        • The regular train came along, stopped, picked her up and off she went.
        • The ferry stopped, launched a boat and picked them up - they had paddled 14 miles across the Channel - at 7am.
        • This driver saw the students running to the stop but refused to stop and pick them up.
        • And it has its own jetty, where you can be picked up by boat and spirited to the superior diving and snorkelling sites around Tiran.
        • After about an hour we were picked up by another boat and taken to shore.
        • On Aug.30, rescuers picked him up in a boat and deposited him on an interstate.
        • He said some passengers scrambled onto nearby Highway 401, where cars stopped, picked them up and took them to the airport.
      2. 1.2informal Arrest someone.
        she was picked up on prostitution charges
        Example sentencesExamples
        • They just said all they had to do was get a warrant for his arrest and go and pick him up.
        • Although he had been picked up by the police on a routine check, he was not ill-treated by them.
        • When told of the reason for the rejected claim, the patient produced an arrest warrant stating that she has been picked up for prostitution and her prescription was confiscated by the police.
        • Robert and Brendan were picked up by a passing police patrol car.
        • Two weeks ago, Alex was picked up and arrested for assault and prostitution.
        • But detectives said they were not going to pick him up as he was not wanted in relation to any charges or criminal investigations.
        • The same night the police raided the houses of many relatives to pick them up.
        • Early morning of 12 September, a team of police officers picked him up from the outskirts of his village.
        • She called the police, who promptly picked him up.
        • One day the police pick him up and an inspector interviews him; he is released for lack of evidence.
        Synonyms
        arrest, apprehend, detain, take into custody, take prisoner, seize, capture, catch, take in

    • 2Casually strike up a relationship with a stranger as a sexual overture.

      he picked her up in a bar
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He was with the woman who had picked him up at the train station, a Colombian poet.
      • I want you to stop picking me up for practice or bothering me in the halls.
      • He tried to pick me up at the bar. I am not sure how I feel about it.
      • I ran into him at a club in my early 20s, and he tried to pick me up.
      • ‘Only if you stop trying to pick me up,’ said Shelley, but the smile on her face told Zachary she found his antics amusing.
      • But, I met him when I was 18 years old - by accident - he tried to pick me up in a bar when I was out with my friends.
      • I talked to a guy online for about a minute and a half and he tried to pick me up.
      • If I'm in drag, and he picks me up at a gay bar, is it a queer relationship?
      • I ran into him years later at a senior class car wash when I was eighteen and he tried to pick me up.
      • A few weeks later he tried to pick me up at a bar.
      Synonyms
      strike up a casual acquaintance with, strike up a casual relationship with, take up with

    • 3Return to a point made by someone in order to criticize it.

      she picked him up on one niggling point
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The interviewer picked him up on it, and later I looked it up.
      • I'm surprised no one on the panel picked him up on it.
      • Well that's a lie for starters. I'm surprised no one on the panel picked him up on it.
      • He gave a clever answer for a start, which you picked him up on.
      • He's said it repeatedly in his lecture, and in his printed notes, and no one's picked him up on it.

    • 4Make someone feel more energetic and cheerful.

      songs to pick you up and make you feel good

  • pick something up

    • 1Collect something that has been left elsewhere.

      Wanda came over to pick up her things
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He just came to pick up his things - and to give Brooke back his wedding ring!
      • ‘They told me to take the bag home and they informed Royal Mail, who came and picked it up,’ she said.
      • When she came to pick up her things I made her some lunch and we had a little chat.
      • I'm afraid she doesn't work here anymore, just this morning she came to pick up her things.
      • I was emailed to pick it up from another building.
      • Once you have obtained your ticket, your luggage will be picked up shortly.
      • But one day when I came to pick up my things they weren't there. There was nothing there, no sign of them anywhere.
      • Then her father came to pick up her things - her clothes, tennis shoes, a bottle of mineral water.
      • His brother picked it up and delivered it to him within moments.
      • But by the time they went to pick up the suitcase, it could not be found.
      • If your magic runs a bit short, you can order a copy from the local bookstore, and the hotel will pick it up and deliver it to you after midnight.
      • Anyway, they came to pick up her things that were stored in the basement this summer.
      • He would have had to hire a private contractor to come pick that stuff up.
      • Whilst we sat waiting for our food to arrive, a steady stream of customers came to pick up take-away orders.
      • I wish I could have personally met you when I came to pick up the suitcase on Tuesday.

    • 2Obtain, acquire, or learn something, especially in an informal way.

      he had picked up a little Russian from his father
      Example sentencesExamples
      • It's the only way to learn and it's amazing how quickly you can pick it up.
      • Vic had learned to drive at fourteen, from his old man, and had picked it up as easily as fishes learn to swim.
      • I started to learn Thai, I just seem to pick it up and now can speak it pretty well.
      • She was all right with it when her girlfriends found out but she was not too comfortable now that unfamiliar people around her were picking this information up.
      • He picked it up quickly - watched a lot of TV and learnt to read English.
      • He has certainly picked things up quicker than I imagined.
      • Coming from a keyboard, having learned to read, once I picked it up and learned how to blow it, the music came quicker.
      • They also learn very quickly and easily pick things up.
      • He picked it up quickly, learning by himself because he thought it was fun.
      • Posters around the village give details of the events and information where competition forms can be picked up.
      Synonyms
      find, discover, locate, come across, stumble across, happen on, chance on, unearth, obtain, come by, come to have, get, receive, procure
      learn, get to know, acquire, acquire a knowledge of, acquire skill in, become competent in, become proficient in, master
      hear, hear tell, find out, get to know, get wind of, be informed of, be told, learn, be made aware of, be given to understand
      1. 2.1Catch an illness or infection.
        I've picked up some kind of flu bug
        Example sentencesExamples
        • Previously worn and dirty clothes contain the same foul odour producing bacteria and you will pick the infection up again within seconds of contact.
        • For every patient and their family there is no acceptable level of MRSA but we all know that when people are in an acute hospital system, there is a chance that an infection can be picked up.
        • Once chlamydia has been successfully treated, it won't come back unless a new infection is picked up.
        • Any infection or disease present in the slurry can be picked up by these people and animals in the course of their headlong, indiscriminate rush to the killing scene.
        • Some infections can be picked up by pregnant women and transferred to the developing baby via the placenta.
        • Many new cases are picked up by men sleeping with infected prostitutes in places like Thailand, where the virus is rife.
        • The mosquitoes pick the virus up from biting infected pigs or waterfowl and then pass the virus on when they bite humans.
        • Meningococcal meningitis vaccines is also required by the authorities as these infections can be picked up from fellow travellers (carriers).
        • But she is very susceptible to infections and if she were to pick something up then it could be fatal.
        • They in turn will multiply the infection and the later lambs to pick it up will become very badly infected.
        Synonyms
        catch, contract, get, become infected with, become ill with, come down with, go down with

    • 3Detect or receive a signal or sound, especially by means of electronic apparatus.

      we've picked up a distress signal
      the animals had picked up their scent and were following their trail
      Example sentencesExamples
      • These electromagnetic waves are picked up by your car's antenna and then converted into recognizable noise - music, talk shows, and the like - by the tuner.
      • It amplifies them, and sends them out, just like a radio, and the receiver picks them up in the other person ear.
      • These signals are picked up by a handheld receiver.
      • Of the 18 access points whose signals were picked up, 13 were sending unencrypted messages.
      • The air force forced a light plane to land on Saturday after an emergency signal was picked up indicating the aircraft had been hijacked.
      • The signals were picked up late yesterday after an all-day search for the spacecraft, which had suddenly stopped communicating after its launch, the US scientists had said.
      • The reflected sound waves are picked up by the crystal element and transformed back into electric signals.
      • The reflected signals are picked up by microphones in the cane handle, processed by a miniature computer, then converted into pulses which the user can feel through his hand.
      • One of its benefits will be anyone sending distress signals from land or sea will know immediately if their signal has been picked up.
      • These signals are picked up by a computer and turned into detailed pictures.
      Synonyms
      receive, detect, get, hear
      1. 3.1Become aware of or sensitive to something.
        women are very quick to pick up emotional atmospheres
        Example sentencesExamples
        • Body work performed on owners and pets works well because animals pick up on stress and often mimic their owners.
        • The problems were picked up when an infection control nurse, who started work with the PCT this spring, examined procedures at the surgery.
        • The faster these changes are picked up the quicker you will be able to react to drops in rankings.
        • She's pretty sensitive at picking these things up.
        • The penalty for misclassifying a genotoxic compound (false negatives that reflect low sensitivity) is low as it would be picked up in the later regulatory test.
        • A lot of infections can be picked up very early.
        • Sufferers normally have a one-in-three chance of survival, depending on how early the symptoms are picked up.
        • Babies and toddlers do pick up on stress in the home and often act out what they are unable to put into words.
        • Children pick up on stress so if you're unhappy, they will be too.
        • These emotions can be picked up; dogs smell fear, a child knows if it is loved or not, and so forth.

    • 4Resume something.

      they picked up their friendship without the slightest difficulty
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The evening ended with a good-night kiss, and they quickly picked up their relationship where they'd left off. "We fell in love all over again," Dave says.
      • Last year they had a falling out but in the past few months had made amends with each other and picked up their friendship where they had left off.
      • The two young men were acquainted with each other and picked up their friendship again Sunday.
      • They laughed about their shared affection for Martinis and picked up their friendship where they'd left off.
      • They picked up their relationship almost from where they'd left off, but it wasn't the same.
      • I didn't get a chance to finish it but I think I'll pick it up soon.
      Synonyms
      begin again, begin, take up, start again, start, resume, recommence, carry on, go on, continue
      1. 4.1Refer to or develop a point mentioned earlier.
        Dawson picked up her earlier remark
        Example sentencesExamples
        • Often in things like this, one journalist builds a list of instances, and then it gets flipped from story to story as other journalists pick it up.
        • The press picked up his remark and on the front page of the newspaper the next day, I was depicted in a cartoon.
        • I think it's interesting what traditions are picked up on and what countries are referenced in that.
        • For when he did make an outrageous remark it was picked up on, and he was fired within hours.
        • And given the scientist adherence to a kind of Creative Commons ethos, their developments could be picked up and expanded upon by anyone in those fields, but no one could actually own the development itself.
        • I am appalled this issue was not picked up on in the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.
        • He picked up on a story that had been on ABC News two days earlier.
        • But my sister made a very moving speech and picked it up on my behalf.
        • When these inaccuracies were picked up on by the blog community and exposed by several news outlets, the story was removed from the News web site.
        • Soon after, the Melbourne Age reported on the lone refugee's plight, and the story was picked up widely.
        • I realise that some people have been frustrated that their particular concerns have not been picked up on, but a number of the issues raised were important but were not within the scope of the bill.
        • A lot of the Cultural Commission's recommendations have been picked up and used.
        • He picked up his remark, replying "Yes, taking care of eight children is a man sized job."
        • Someone here other than us has finally picked this story up.
        • Those things have not been picked up on because we are in Opposition, and they are what anybody would expect to hear from an Opposition.

    • 5Pay the bill for something.

      an argument over who would pick up the cheque
      Example sentencesExamples
      • She added: "In line with 'polluter pays' principle it's time the tobacco companies picked up the tab for the harm their products are doing."
      • Unlike the board, whose legal bills are picked up by the public, opponents of school closings often run out of money to continue their fights.
      • It is understood around €3 million has been incurred by the aviation regulator's office, whose costs will be picked up by the authorities in addition to its own bill.
      • In which event, any medical bills will be picked up by the taxpayer, not by the company.
      • The bills were picked up by some of the biggest names in the business world.
      • The rest of the bill is picked up by private insurance companies who decide what they'll pay in their corporate boardrooms.
      • Who picked up the tab for his childhood immunisations and his education?
      • So there's a sort of change in the attitude towards social welfare in the sense that people believe that they're being forced to pick that bill up, but generally people felt that more money should be available.
      • But the Council is £200,000 in the red, the executive committee heard yesterday, and if that is still the case next year the bill will be picked up by the authority.
      • When they played well, he handed out cash bonuses and picked up bar tabs. When they lost, he still picked up the tab.

    • 6Find and take a particular road or route.

      they veered left and picked up the road which ran alongside the river
      Example sentencesExamples
      • I'm already looking forward to returning in a few years to pick the road up where I've left off.
      • We then picked up the road again and followed it through to our next downhill, a rocky, fast, narrow trail which deposits the rider at great speed at the foot of Biggin Hill.
      • Eventually, after asking for directions a number of times, we picked up the road south and headed off.
      • You can pick the road up in Saunces, at the top of town next to Viares Square, home of the Town Hall.
      • I dropped down into Balmaha, which seemed to be mostly closed, and picked up the road heading North alongside the Loch.

    • 7Tidy a room or building.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Every day someone made up the beds and picked up the room while we were out.
      • The cabin steward picked up the room and made the beds at least twice a day, and she was very nice.
      • I set Lucie on the couch and picked up the room making it just as neat as it was when we left.
      • We picked up the room, got dressed, and prepared Brandon's breakfast.
      • So, instead of just verbally telling him, "Pick up your room," we write down: Put dirty clothes in laundry basket, Put magazines on shelf, Put LEGOs back in box.

  • pick up after

    • Tidy up things left strewn around by (someone)

      Tony did at least pick up after himself
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Though she would never admit to it, it sure felt good to have a man to pick up after.
      • It's an idea that seems to be garnering preliminary approval from outdoor professionals who must log time picking up after careless campers.
      • If I were to be someone's guest for a week, I'd pick up after myself.
      • So I made a bold decision: I cleaned my room, threw out all the dirty candy wrappers and half finished pop cans, dusted off old books, and picked up after myself.
      • Through a huge duration of my life, someone has always picked up after me.
      • Jas still lives at home and still picks up after me.
      • A spokesman for the group said: ‘Too much money is spent on picking up after mindless litter louts.’
      • I'm tired of doing all the work around here and picking up after everybody
      • You have no conscience, no sense of responsibility, and I am sick unto death of picking up after you!
      • Environmentally conscious citizens tired of picking up after careless smokers are welcoming the formation of the national anti-butt littering body.

Derivatives

  • pickable

    • adjective
    • And one of the things that delights any child is the sight of a tree full of ripe fruit freely pickable.
      Example sentencesExamples
      • If the loopholes by which car doors could be broken into were corrected, I guarantee you that the locks would be pickable - cars have to be built so that they can be broken into, paradoxically.
      • Ingenious 200 years ago, they are eminently pickable today.
      • But it can feel like a war if you have been watching a crop like gooseberries grow and ripen, swelling into pickable perfection and then find that a bird, insect or disease has got to them first.

Origin

Middle English (earlier as pike, which continues in dialect use): of unknown origin. Compare with Dutch pikken 'pick, peck', and German picken 'peck, puncture', also with French piquer 'to prick'.

  • pike from Old English:

    The earliest recorded meaning of pike is for a pickaxe, pick simply being a variant form of pike. The freshwater fish the pike gets its name from the resemblance of its long pointed jaw to the old infantry weapon called a pike, which has a pointed steel or iron head on a long shaft. While basically the same word as Old English pike, this came into English during the 16th century from French piquer ‘to pierce’. In dialect piked ‘pointed’ became picked and then peaked, and this is probably the origin of the word peak (Late Middle English) for the pointed top of something such as a mountain. The Australian and New Zealand expressions to pike out, ‘to withdraw or go back on a plan or agreement’, and to pike on, ‘to let someone down’, go back to a 15th- and 16th-century use to pike yourself ‘to provide yourself with a pilgrim's pike or staff’, and so ‘to depart, leave’. See also plain

Video

Rhymes

artic, brick, chick, click, crick, flick, hand-pick, hic, hick, kick, lick, mick, miskick, nick, pic, quick, rick, shtick, sic, sick, slick, snick, stick, thick, tic, tick, trick, Vic, wick

pick2

noun pɪkpɪk

  • 1A tool consisting of a long handle set at right angles in the middle of a curved iron or steel bar with a point at one end and a chisel edge or point at the other, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • Soon we encountered rocks and went back to get picks.
    • Their tools were jacks, picks, crowbars, wheelbarrows and handcarts.
    • Even as she swung the pick into the rock, he could see how difficult it was for her.
    • The standard tools of the navvies were picks, shovels and a wheelbarrow.
    • What they have to understand is that this place was once just a hole in the ground cut by teams of labourers with picks and shovels and lots and lots of dynamite.
    • He pulled up on his ice tools, their picks precariously dug into soft snow.
    • To speed the process on rougher surfaces, they also used a scabbling pick, which was similar to an ordinary pick only shorter of handle and stout of casting.
    • Every one scattered and began hastily pounding on the rock walls with their picks.
    • The head is welded directly to the shaft, so if the pick breaks, the tool is ruined.
    • The raiders broke in the door of the post office at the corner in the village and tried to dislodge the safe using picks and chisels.
    • They worked with picks, breaking up the soil which was then passed through a riddle to recover artefacts.
    • Men threw picks, rocks and all sorts of things at the guards.
    • The newer combination entrenching tool added a pick, which helped break up hard soil.
    • But when he came back from lunch break, his pick had been stolen.
    • All day for a week, she and other members of her team scoured the arid landscape for fossils, their only tools a tiny pick and a brush.
    • Soon he learnt to recognise, simply from looking at a dried patch of mud, whether it was worth breaking its crust with his pick.
    • The ice at this stage had fused into one large mass and had to be broken with a pick before it could be used.
    • She said it was painful that as a woman she had had to work so hard with a pick.
    • There were picks, shovels, knives, swords and axes.
    • Kate slammed her pick into the rock wall of the quarry.

  • 2An instrument for picking.

    an ebony hair pick
    Example sentencesExamples
    • You even carry a hair pick in the back pocket of your excruciatingly tight black jeans - just in case it gets a little windy.
    • The woman dressed in the loose, mint colored smock was carefully using a pick to arrange the hair of the woman in her chair.
    • They will also require tools to unsnarl their hair; a pick and a vented hair brush work very well.
    • Using a hair pick or the tail of a rattail comb separate out a strand of hair from the front section of the hairline near the forehead.
    • Tousle the hair with a styling pick before finishing with a holding spray.
    1. 2.1informal A plectrum.
      a pink guitar pick
      Example sentencesExamples
      • With a shrug he got out his pick, shifted the guitar in his lap, and played the notes on the stanzas.
      • He threw a guitar pick at Connor who caught it after 2 attempts.
      • Jackie smiled at the freshman, holding a guitar in one hand, music in the other, and a guitar pick in between her teeth.
      • She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a thick black cord with a green guitar pick attached to it.
      • Her battered old acoustic guitar lay on her untidily made bed along with several of the Tolkein novels and a box of guitar picks.
      • Once they found their bags, they stuffed them with everything from clothes and toiletries to spare picks and drumsticks.
      • He picks up a handful of guitar picks and heads for the checkout.
      • It was mindblowingly loud when they started attacking the strings with picks, each guitar hooked up to an amp.
      • I grabbed my guitar pick in my hand and started to strum on the chords.
      • He admitted this was only his fourth show without a backing band, which may account for him dropping his pick into the guitar midsong.
      • He finally picked out everything, from the guitar to picks to the strap and amp, wrote it all down and came up with the exact cost.
      • He pushed past the boys that had been talking about getting his guitar pick and swept me up in his arms.
      • ‘Come in,’ Jason said as he strummed at his electric guitar with a well-worn pick.
      • I was leaning against the wall, mindlessly strumming my guitar, my fingers clutching a bright green pick, my hair falling into my eyes.
      • Pat threw his drumsticks into the crowd, while Jay threw his guitar pick.
      • The strings are made of silk or nylon and are plucked by the artist with picks called plectrum attached to their thumb and first two fingers.
      • She became aware of the guitar pick in her pocket once again, then pushed thoughts of it out of her mind.
      • He had a guitar pick in his mouth and had his facial hair trimmed into a soul patch.
      • I went to my drawer where I kept my new strings but all that was in it was a notebook, some pens and guitar picks.
      • Laura patted her pockets, finally coming up with her guitar pick and one of Carrie's colored pencils.

Origin

Middle English: variant of pike2.

verb.1
phr.
phr.v.
noun.1
 
 

pick1

verbpikpɪk

  • 1with object Take hold of and remove (a flower, fruit, or vegetable) from where it is growing.

    I went to pick some flowers for Jenny's room
    freshly picked mushrooms
    Example sentencesExamples
    • The process consists of reselecting the original azalea seeds, sowing them, letting them flower, picking the best and taking cuttings.
    • Organic soups are often comprised of freshly picked vegetables and beans.
    • When the harvest is ready, children from the estate will be invited to pick the fruit.
    • What should I do with my autumn-fruiting raspberry plants after I have picked the fruits?
    • If you want lots of small fruits, keep picking the squashes young.
    • We would buy fresh fruit and pick fresh vegetables from a small garden in the back.
    • The leaves may also be cooked, which allows slightly older wild plants to be used, but the leaves must always be picked before the plant flowers.
    • I went outside and watered them and picked the fruits and vegetables.
    • A girl runs frenzied, searching, sometimes stopping briefly to pick some flowers eager but not bright, hopeful and wanting.
    • The week normally starts with the farmers picking their fruit and vegetables on Monday.
    • There was a man outside cutting wood for fire and a woman picking vegetables and fruits from a garden.
    • The warm, earthy smell of freshly picked vegetables used to pervade the whole atmosphere.
    • A flower vase stood on the table, a few freshly picked flowers inserted in it.
    • At the foot of the garden path she found her eldest sister, picking some of the flowers their gardener had allowed to grow wild there.
    • On average they take 120 days to grow, and are picked sooner than regular carrots to preserve tenderness.
    • It has a mild tranquillising effect, which you can experience by merely picking the flower buds and inhaling their scent.
    • Local children will be invited to pick the fruit to encourage them to eat a healthy diet.
    • Meat and fish were curried or peppered in order to preserve them and we picked the abundant fruit that grew in our garden.
    • Flora dropped a pile of freshly picked fruits next to him.
    • Observe your vegetables all summer and pick those for seed that are the best - perhaps in yield, taste, disease resistance, vigour or early ripening.
    Synonyms
    harvest, gather, gather in, collect, take in, pluck, pull, dig, crop, reap, bring home
    1. 1.1 Take hold of and lift or move.
      he picked a match out of the box
      picking her up, he carried her into the next room
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Kevin moved in for a closer look, then picked one up.
      • Breathless, I gingerly picked up the two pieces of jewelry, scrutinizing them thoroughly.
      • She carefully picked up her bag, heading for the exit.
      • Out in the pond I had fantastic views of a whiskered tern wheeling around and picking food of some sort out of the water.
      • He left his ball on the green, picked up his bag, and walked back to the parking lot.
      • He counts to five, then picks the receiver up again.
      • Too excited to be irritated by her cat, she quickly picked up the phone.
      • He quickly picked up the phone and dialed in Jim's pager number.
      • I missed, and as I walked toward my ball, I reached down to pick up my cigarette.
      • The tracking system uses sensors hidden under Gillette shelves to detect when products are picked up.
      • He picked his fork up gingerly, signalling the start of the meal, and spoke no more.
      • I was about to fish out my wallet again when the guy picked up my bag of things.
      • She collapsed on the couch, and picked the phone receiver up again.
      • My mom picked up the book, flipping through the pages.
      • A player picked up the ball and ran him out.
      • Stooping down, he picked up my bag, slinging it over his shoulder.
      • A sensor module in the bag's handle detects when the bag has been picked up, indicating that the owner might be leaving.
      • Grudgingly, I pulled myself out of my chair and walked to the phone, picking it up and putting the receiver to my ear.
      • She quickly picked up the phone and dialed the number as quickly as possible.
      • In pair lifts, one partner picks the other up off the ice and later places that partner back down on it.
    2. 1.2pick upGolf no object Lift up one's ball, especially when conceding a hole.
      Example sentencesExamples
      • During a round last fall, he had a 20-foot putt that didn't matter, so I told him to pick up his ball.
      • Then he walked to the hole, looked in, reached down and picked up his ball.
      • I think a whole lot of amateurs make a big mistake by picking up the ball on the putting green and not putting out.
      • He looked at me, picked up his ball and returned to the course.
      • He had to putt from three yards to tie when the other player picked up his opponent's ball marker rather than forcing him to putt out.

  • 2with object Choose (someone or something) from a number of alternatives, typically after careful thought.

    maybe I picked the wrong career after all
    she left Jed to pick out some toys
    no object this time, I get to pick
    Example sentencesExamples
    • Sure being popular would be great, but if I had to choose, I'd pick friendship over popularity anytime.
    • The farmers here are happy to teach how the leaves are chosen and how to pick them - if guests promise to put the leaves to their baskets.
    • Would it be safe to send them to the islands I mentioned or have they picked the wrong time of year to travel down there?
    • The site picks the wrong musicians to plead its case.
    • She picked two people to chose their teams, and as predicted, I was chosen last.
    • It was time to choose and they picked the man who would fight.
    • We just picked the wrong people to wield the power.
    • Alternatively, people pick the first option available to them simply because it's there.
    • They were given a free hand in picking the characters and choosing how they should be depicted.
    • They had, it seemed, picked the wrong person to do it.
    • Voters would choose from one candidate picked by the prime minister and 200 others nominated at random from the electoral roll.
    • The options for this include picking specific cities, metropolitan areas, or even a distance radius from a specific point.
    • Also, maybe I was picking the wrong options in conversations but there was a lot that never got properly explained to me.
    • There certainly are a number of candidates to choose from when picking the players most likely to come through in key situations.
    • Thereafter, he seemed to have an unerring knack for picking the wrong script.
    • Sabrina had chosen carefully when she picked her school.
    • The other girl asked him to choose and he picked her.
    • More importantly when women have the chance to pick a director for a project or help to influence who gets chosen, they pick a man.
    • With such a distinguished cast to choose from, they picked the wrong man.
    • You did the wrong thing and you definitely picked the wrong person to do it with.
    Synonyms
    choose, select, pick out, single out, include, hand-pick, decide on, settle on, fix on
    choose, select, pick, single out, hand-pick, decide on, settle on, fix on
    1. 2.1pick one's waywith adverbial of direction Walk slowly and carefully, selecting the best or safest places to put one's feet.
      he picked his way along the edge of the track, avoiding the potholes
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Without another word, the four strange and unlikely companions set off on foot, picking their way carefully through the field.
      • He turned and fled in terror, bumping and scraping several times against the walls he had picked his way along so carefully before.
      • When I could walk again I started picking my way down the ridge, stopping a lot, staying on the trail.
      • She was carefully picking her way through driftwood and garbage.
      • Spotting it, I fell into a low crouch, picking my way slowly over holes and roots.
      • She smiles as she pays the driver and picks her way carefully through the puddles.
      • They were picking their way slowly along the gravel of the stream bed.
      • I have to say that it is a pretty nasty sight, where one has to pick one's way carefully to avoid the mess they leave behind.
      • I picked my way carefully through the mess and strained to see the new arrival in our backyard.
      • She walked into the living room, picking her way carefully through the darkness.
      • His eyes widened as he saw Claire carefully picking her way around the chatting students and onto the bridge.
      • I waited for a break in the steady stream of visitors and set off, head down, picking my way slowly and carefully across.
      • She continued to creep down the hillside, carefully picking her way down.
      • The two men slowly picked their way through the snow-covered trees and rocks.
      • It was a case of slowly picking our way down steep hillside, occasionally dislodging small rocks which bounced and rolled to the bush below.
      • He picked his way carefully through the ferns and knotted roots, focused eyes always straight ahead.
      • To tackle the nose and descend the north ridge, negotiate a rocky corner, then carefully pick your way down, keeping left to avoid difficulties.
      • They carefully picked their way down the ruined staircase and into the basement floor.
      • I slowly picked my way through the darkened streets until I was at the front door of Jason's hut.
      • They picked their way carefully across the road and stepped inside the warm, dry cathedral, pulling the doors closed behind them.

  • 3no object Repeatedly pull at something with one's fingers.

    the old woman was picking at the sheet
    Example sentencesExamples
    • Holly shrugged, picking at her long, pale purple finger nails.
    • The drunk was picking at one of his pockets, he had pulled it inside out.
    • He looked at his fingers again, picking at the calluses on his left hand.
    • Before she knew it, Stephanie was sitting in a taxi cab, picking at her long fingernails nervously.
    • ‘I'm not scared, I'm not proud,’ she says, eyes down, picking at the glittery design on her skirt.
    • She was picking at the scabs and forcing her fingers in her ears.
    • I paced back and forth in the bedroom, fretting and picking at the skin around my fingernails.
    • My fingers started picking at my chipped black nail polish and I kept my eyes down, concentrating on the paint chipping.
    • His fingers were picking at a thread on my quilt.
    • Shrugging, Vicki lowered her gaze to her fingers picking at a tattered section of knee on her jeans.
    • She scrunched up her face and began picking at her fingernails.
    • She just sat there, looking down and quietly picking at the skin around her fingernails.
    • Morgan watched her as she fiddled with the corner of her notebook, picking at it with her small fingers…
    • She shifts on her bed, and starts picking at the loose stitching on her bedspread.
    • Flushing, Vicki smiled and lowered her gaze, picking at the nail of her smallest finger on her left hand.
    • A girl with blonde curly hair was sitting swinging her legs and picking at her fingers.
    • Andrew pulled her hand into his to stop her from picking at the bodice of her dress.
    • She looked down, avoiding eye contact as she brought her hands up, fiddling with her fingers and picking at her newly painted fingernails.
    • In my eight months away she'd become careworn, picking nervously at her fingers as she spoke, palpably lacking the confidence she once had.
    • She looked down at the table, her fingers picking at the white material on it.
    1. 3.1with object Make (a hole) in fabric by pulling at it with one's fingers.
      she picked a hole in her tights
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Somebody, at one point, had carefully picked a hole in the fabric, leaving a peephole to the room.
      • My sister picked a hole in her navy school tights as we sat and listened.
    2. 3.2 Eat food or a meal in small amounts or without much appetite.
      she picked at her breakfast
      Example sentencesExamples
      • I wasn't very hungry so I just picked at my food, barely nibbling on it.
      • He picked at his food, not in the mood to eat anymore.
      • I picked at my food, my entire appetite deserting me after the first few mouthfuls.
      • Andrew could tell that his wife was nervous, possibly even more nervous than he was, because she didn't say anything and only picked at her food.
      • She took another sip of her wine, and picked at her food.
      • She stared at her food, picked at it a bit, and then stood up.
      • Silently, I picked at my food, nibbling on it mindlessly.
      • Suze picked at her Thai food, and looked at the assembled table with her deep eyes.
      • I picked at my food numbly as my mind tried to assess the situation.
      • She took a bit of food and picked at it, eating little bits.
      • The other young ladies picked at their food, eating little.
      • His mother would place a bowl of bright red cherries or shiny pistachios before us and we picked at the food as we chatted lazily.
      • She picked at the food but it tasted like ash in her mouth.
      • Matt picked at his food, not noticing the worried looks his mother shot him.
      • Then finally she sat down and picked at her food.
      • I nodded and picked at the food that was set in front of me.
      • ‘I just can't do it,’ Andy was complaining later, as he picked at his food with his fork.
      • Julie picked at the small amount of food she had put on her plate.
      • Aimée sat between him and Brett and picked at her food, nervous about all that was about to happen although more confident now that she had friends with her.
      • She seemed distracted, not fully listening to him, and she picked at her food.
      Synonyms
      nibble, peck, eat listlessly, toy with, play with, take very small bites from, push one's food around one's plate, push one's food around on one's plate, eat like a bird, show no appetite for, eat sparingly of
    3. 3.3with object Remove unwanted matter from (one's nose or teeth) by using one's finger or a pointed instrument.
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Acne cream and nose picking is not attractive these days.
      • Avoid nose blowing, rubbing, or picking while your nose is healing.
      • He idly picked his nose and then a large spot on his chin that was troubling him.
      • The most disgusting thing I encounter is waiters picking their noses or cutting their fingers.
      • This included advice about regular hand washing, warnings about crowded places, and the dangers of nose picking.
      • I injured my index finger while picking my nose.
      • And never lick your fingers, pick your teeth, or floss at the table.
      • For example, a child who picks his or her nose may be uncomfortable because he or she has actually stuck an object in the nose.
      • I have read your letter many times, trying to find the turning point in this relationship, and keep coming back to the nose picking.
      • These range from lack of concentration, shyness and disobedience to nose picking and whining.
      • The bleeding should stop and not start again, unless your nose is knocked or picked.
      • My nephew Trevor is three, and he's a big fan of nose picking.
      • There is reference, as well, to nose picking, a subject commonly avoided in media.
      • Gone are the days when he insisted, ‘if my nose needs picking, I'll pick it even if the cameras are on me’.
      • Habits such as nail biting, hair twirling, thumb-sucking and nose picking are common and stop naturally in most children by the time they reach junior school.
    4. 3.4 Criticize someone in a petty way.
      now, please don't start picking at Ruth
      Example sentencesExamples
      • As he engages with the merciless classmates who rag him and pick at him every day, he imagines himself in computer graphics in the armour of the warrior.
      • I guess if you wanted to pick at him, you could say he still takes it upon himself to do too many things.
      • But I'm more mad than sad - mad at the press for its relentless picking at her faults while too often giving her opponent a softer ride.
      • The moment Wayne walked in the door, the pretty-faced little man started right in picking at him.
      • But Ruben liked to pick and pick at her until she exploded so he could turn around and call her childish.

  • 4with object Pluck the strings of (a guitar or banjo).

    Example sentencesExamples
    • The first time I heard his exact guitar picking and gentle voice I was hooked; the sophistication and pop sensibility of his songs left me fuzzy-warm.
    • Other bands have done the single string picking coupled with power chords (for emphasis, of course).
    • He is bluesy; his guitar picking is flawless; his lyrics and melodies are touchingly funny.
    • Quiet strums and broken, stammering chords suddenly twist into intense breaks of almost classical Spanish guitar and deep south string picking.
    • This time Rory gets to show off his fine guitar picking.
    • Take, for instance, the building repetition of the guitar picking of ‘Back to Mali’.
    • The orchestration then slowly fades out save the gentle guitar picking.
    • The Chorus to this number relies on an atmospheric down shift of guitar picking and total distortion.
    • In its third section, the piece lands into a melancholy return with a re-established tonic and some layered guitar/autoharp picking.
    • He says his fingers are holding up pretty good after a lifetime of guitar picking and strumming, so he may remain on the road for a few years yet.
    • ‘Amnesia’ features some great guitar picking from Nicholls over a perfect lazy groove.
    • As we came to our first town, he suddenly started picking some demonically fast banjo.
    • With soft acoustic picking of the guitar behind it, it's a passionate cry for support and help.
    • Velvety vocals, sung with tenderly picked guitars and gently played piano occasionally accompanied by some harsh brass made this record.
    • On the album, the guitar picking is so precise that it demands that every painstakingly plucked note be closely listened to.
    Synonyms
    strum, twang, thrum, pluck, finger
    1. 4.1pick something out Play a tune on a guitar or banjo slowly or with difficulty.
      she began to pick out a rough melody on the guitar
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He hung up and went back into the basement studio and picked up a guitar and picked out a melody that had been playing around in the back of his head for the last few hours.
      • At home, Roberta's father repaired an old upright piano, and she began to pick out tunes while sitting on her mother's lap.
      • She started picking a gentle tune out of the instrument, the rich melody spiraling into the mild night air.
      • Maybelle picked out a melody on the bass strings with her thumb, while she used the index finger of the same hand to brush up and down across the higher strings, combining both chords and rhythm.
      • At just four years of age she began to pick out tunes she heard on the radio on the family's Baby Grand Piano.
nounpikpɪk

  • 1in singular An act or the right of selecting something from among a group of alternatives.

    take your pick from our extensive menu
    Laura should have first pick
    Example sentencesExamples
    • You share brief, frugal meals with the monks in the refectory, then it's back to your cell to pray - for salvation, inspiration, or deliverance, take your pick.
    • You are free, I guess, to take your pick in relation to these and similar options.
    • We were then invited to take our pick from a choice of starters.
    • You can take your pick - lawyers, police or reporters.
    • Take your pick, but either way it's quite irrational.
    • The audience will also get the chance to judge the films and to select their favourite pick for the viewer's choice award.
    • We just walk out to the freezer in the garage and take our pick.
    • You can either help me get over it or you have the option to divorce me, take your pick.
    • They told me, through an interpreter, to take my pick.
    • Take your pick and go ahead and exchange the old one.
    • Mains include turbot in a langoustine and scallop sauce and monkfish kebabs, or take your pick from the hefty choice of daily specials.
    • We could take our pick of the brightest minds on earth.
    • Of course, you must match your seat covers to your dash cover, so take your pick from a wide choice of seat covers, which come in a variety of fabrics and colors.
    • Take your pick from a home cooked Devonshire morning tea for $5 or a delicious roast beef lunch for $15, or both!
    • Take your pick when it comes to student politics today.
    • Meanwhile, if you want to ring the changes with sandwiches you make at home, then take your pick from this delicious recipe selection.
    • The tourist in search of adventures can take his pick.
    • There you can take your pick from an intensive 12-week course, as well as five- and one-day basic sushi classes.
    • Moto-cross, skate or snowboarding - take your pick - the look is very similar, if not the same.
    • Take your pick from a seaweed wrap, salt loofah body buff, Swedish massage, aromatherapy, mineral bath, and more.
    Synonyms
    choice, selection, option, decision
    1. 1.1the pick ofinformal The person or thing perceived as the best in a particular group.
      he was the pick of the bunch
      Example sentencesExamples
      • He was the pick of the performers last season at half-back and stood out as one of the better players in a team that has taken a battering week-in and week-out.
      • Her rooms were decorated with every sort of fabric you could think of and she had the pick of the jewels of England as well.
      • The gold plated acrylic idol of ‘Happy Man’ carrying a gunny bag full of treasure, and depicting prosperity, was the pick of the lots.
      • The Bar team is made up of the pick of their elite golfers.
      • Jack is the pick of a sorry bunch with six goals in 35 central defensive appearances.
      • His production of John Marston's 1603 tragi-comedy is not, for me, the pick of the bunch.
      • In all honesty, he is probably the pick of a bad bunch.
      • The anchor man's propensity to select the correct pass at all times once more saw him stand out as the pick of City's trialists before his half-time substitution.
      • Champagne is the pick of the crop in the wine market.
      • The stand-off was the pick of the team, kicking two penalties and converting their try after a concerted drive by the forwards.
      Synonyms
      best, finest, top, choice, choicest, prime, cream, flower, prize, treasure, pearl, gem, jewel, the jewel in the crown, the crème de la crème, elite, elect
    2. 1.2 Someone or something that has been selected.
      the club made him their first pick
      Example sentencesExamples
      • The said he was their pick because he took an airline that was losing money and made it profitable.
      • When the co-ordinators at the Miss World Canada pageant called her to tell her she was their pick, she was ecstatic and surprised.
      • The Rays called across the bay on Tuesday to tell him he was their pick in the third round of the amateur draft.
      • It seems that the judges were rather parsimonious with their scores, but by giving her the highest scores, it was clear that she was their pick for the title.
      • "As soon as they opened the case and charged him, he was their pick and there was no suggestion of letting off."

  • 2Basketball
    An act of blocking or screening a defensive player from the ball handler, allowing an open shot.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • In the triangle, players don't set picks off the ball.
    • One of the final areas of movement without the ball is that of coming off of picks.
    • In this example, the offense sends a big player up to set a pick near the free throw line.
    • At the same time the low man on ball side also goes away from the ball to set a pick.
    • If the ball handler brings the defender wide around the pick, its not the screener's fault.

Phrases

  • pick and choose

    • Select only the best or most desirable from among a number of alternatives.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • People can now pick and choose between a wide range of ways of getting fit.
      • They will be able to pick and choose where they operate, while Royal Mail is obliged to keep its universal postal system up and running.
      • But he still liked the idea of being the guy who gets to pick and choose among a bevy of beauties.
      • She couldn't pick and choose when it was convenient to be with me.
      • We had to sign up to the agreement, we couldn't pick and choose.
      • Visitors will be able to pick and choose from the hundreds of available careers and training opportunities.
      • He also said it would be discriminatory to limit the number of fêtes to be held in the area or to pick and choose between fete venues.
      • Obviously, you have to pick and choose what works for you, but here are the things that I have found really helped me along the way.
      • It just happens - whatever comes out comes out and then we pick and choose.
      • A leading connoisseur of bottled water last night advised consumers to pick and choose between bottled and mains water.

  • pick someone's brains (or brain)

    • informal Obtain information by questioning someone who is better informed about a subject than oneself.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • They send us questionnaires to pick our brains.
      • The quiz master joined us and we tried to pick his brain about where he gets his questions from.
      • He waited 13 years between making his first short film and his second, but that wouldn't happen today, when people with ideas sit beside him on the bus and start picking his brains.
      • He knew the business side so I picked his brain on that subject.
      • We picked their brains about the impact on soaring house prices, and the damage caused by the North / South divide.
      • Since I was not even remotely interested in purchasing comics, I spent the next hour picking his brain.
      • I tried to pick their brains for any better solutions on how to go about changing the law or simply fixing my own problem.
      • I want to pick your brain on some other issues of the day first.
      • ‘They may be coming to see us,’ she laughs, ‘but I'll certainly take the opportunity to pick their brains.’
      • Thanks for being so kind and letting me pick your brain.

  • pick something clean

    • Completely remove the flesh from a bone or carcass.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • His wife picked the bone clean and gave the rest to the cat.
      • She only realised it was a hedgehog a day or two later, once they'd picked the skeleton clean.
      • The Variant Cs would pick his bones clean in several hours.
      • Stone Age communities sometimes exposed their dead instead of burying them and ravens picked the bones clean.
      • My friend thoroughly enjoyed the meal, since he practically picked the bone clean.
      • Once the bird is picked clean, boil up the carcass, then throw in a handful or two of barley and some vegetables and revel in the glorious Christmassy smells of turkey broth filling the whole house.
      • Flying scavengers have picked the bone clean.
      • Most of the humanoid skeletons had been picked clean, but they hadn't had time to bleach white.
      • I lost all decorum of table etiquette as I held the chop between my fingers and picked the bone clean.
      • The Witch opened the oven, gobbled up Alyonka and picked the bone clean.

  • pick one's feet up

    • Raise one's feet clear of the ground when walking.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • She picked her feet up as she walked. Just as she had been raised.
      • He picked his feet up neatly and high, stepping smartly as if he was on parade or being displayed before a panel of judges.
      • With little else to do she picked her feet up, one after the other, and trudged towards the sound that grew gratifyingly louder as she came closer to its source.
      • A friend saw it happen and said the horse just never picked his feet up, even though he looked ready to jump it right in stride.
      • Walking is easier if you keep your feet facing forwards and pick your feet up with every step you take.

  • pick a fight (or quarrel)

    • Talk or behave in such a way as to provoke an argument or fight.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • One of her neighbours has said: ‘She's picked a fight with everybody around here.’
      • At another time, the commission would not dare to pick a quarrel with the president over such a trifle matter.
      • If we'd have been in the city, I'd have thought maybe he was picking a fight, but we were in the country and this was just a good-natured country fellow who had a few beers in him.
      • I don't know what kind of trouble police were expecting, but I can't see any of these kids picking a fight with anyone at this point, let alone cops with guns.
      • Instead of picking a fight with his party, he has been forced to adopt a tone we have never heard from him before.
      • Her husband picks a fight with her if she seems to be happy, he shouts at her, criticises everything about her, distorts and twists things, and cannot abide her having any kind of friendships - even with her own family.
      • ‘If they want to pick a fight, they've picked a fight with the wrong guy,’ he said in a telephone interview.
      • I think one of the reasons why I rarely, if ever, actually pick a fight or argument is because I play the scene out inside my head before I do anything.
      • I believe that she finally came to the conclusion that if she ever picked a fight with me, she was fighting a losing battle.
      • ‘Sometimes he just almost seems to pick a fight with people for the sake of picking a fight, and I don't think that can be very helpful,’ he says.
      Synonyms
      provoke, start, cause, incite, invite, foment, stir up, whip up, encourage, kindle, instigate, excite, prompt, bring about

  • pick holes in

    • Find fault with.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • It sometimes seems that whenever anyone proposes a forward-looking project that seems able to benefit a community and the country as a whole, a host of people and organisations rush to pick holes in the plan.
      • What is wrong with us that we need to pick holes in even the most successful initiatives instead of praising them for their success?
      • ‘Once you get into the swing of auditions, you start to realise it's possible to pick holes in almost anything,’ he grins.
      • My stuff was so hard to pick holes in, however, that almost all of it did eventually get published somewhere in the academic journals.
      • It's hard to pick holes in his form and he is a worthy favourite.
      • Mistrustful regulators are picking holes in healthy companies.
      • This is exactly the kind of product that professional art historians dislike, and I do not doubt that various specialists will pick holes in it.
      • It often takes the form of undermining colleagues or junior employees by constant criticism, unfairly picking holes in their work or raising objections just for the sake of it.
      • The only thing I'd say is that picking holes in the pro-case is a necessary part of building the anti-case.
      • Anyway, my intention wasn't to pick holes in individual campaigns, but to celebrate the richness and diversity of the political landscape.
      Synonyms
      find fault with, quarrel with, fault, criticize, argue against, argue with, take exception to, attack, take issue with, find lacking, impugn, contradict, dispute, rebut, complain about, cavil at, carp at, object to, be hostile to
      find fault with, criticize, attack, condemn

  • pick a lock

    • Open a lock with an instrument other than the proper key.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • I think he would probably employ professionals, people who would have no problem picking a lock on a cell.
      • It's a simple matter to pick a lock and get in through the window, emerging in an unoccupied bedroom.
      • If a person picks a lock that belongs to someone else, chances are the person will be arrested and face serious breaking-and-entering charges.
      • She looked around for anything that could be used to pick a lock.
      • She thanked her high school boyfriend for teaching her how to pick a lock when a sudden wave of dizziness washed over her.
      • One of the first lessons that the agents learned was that you didn't pick a lock - instead you manipulated or pushed the lock back, using a protractor.
      • For example, regardless of how good a thief you are, you need more equipment than a small piece of metal to pick a lock.
      • Using the screwdriver wasn't the most stylish way to pick a lock, but it got the job done.
      • A lock doesn't even slow down a criminal; few would take the time to pick a lock.
      • The posters pictured a person crouched down, picking a lock, and a woman making an emergency call.
      Synonyms
      force open, break open, prise open, open without a key, break into

  • pick someone's pockets

    • Steal something surreptitiously from another person's pocket.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • You just said that we were going to pick their pockets, not con them.
      • Certainly it gave her lots of time to pick their pockets.
      • I let his hands roam, explore, the knife having disappeared once more, probably back into his pocket, but I didn't dare try picking his pockets to get it back this time, not after just having succeeded in distracting him from a tantrum.
      • Ken, when will you learn that Alex never stops picking your pockets?
      • He is prepared to hug us and take us by the hand - not to mention theatrically attempting to pick our pockets.
      • If you want to be more cautious though, you might want to keep your cash in your pockets while traveling so that at least you'll have some cash handy in case someone picks your pockets.
      • They have effectively picked our pockets in full view of us and we can't do a thing!
      • He would pick their pockets and swipe their watches without them noticing - always owning up afterwards, of course.
      • I may also pick his pockets while he's talking about himself and how awesome he is.

  • pick someone/something to pieces (or apart)

    • Criticize someone or something severely and in detail.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • We surveyed him, and he picked the questions to pieces.
      • I could spend more time picking his column apart, but I won't because I think you get my general point.
      • Ok, so I don't really feel like picking this story apart right now.
      • Once you start picking things apart, you'll never solve the problem.
      • Silenced by infirmity, if not by simple good taste, the former leader has had to stand aside while her legacy is picked apart.
      • I love the people who write reviews and pick it apart and haven't even seen the film.
      • I quite enjoy picking advertisements to pieces and I suspect a lot of other people do too.
      • Let's embrace her instead of picking her apart.
      • The story is so distressing that it is not at first clear whether it is moral or useful to pick it apart.
      • It's human nature to pick people apart and you're under all this scrutiny.

  • pick up the pieces

    • Restore one's life or a situation to a more normal state after a shock or disaster.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Now justice has been done they must try to pick up the pieces of their lives - knowing that one piece will be missing for ever.
      • With mother hospitalised through the shock, Zoe is left to pick up the pieces.
      • Many women are forced into this situation and I see their lives and I help them pick up the pieces.
      • Why would someone else not have picked up the pieces in that situation?
      • Thousands of hours of consular time are spent picking up the pieces after easily avoidable accidents.
      • What happens when a people have been ‘saved'. Who picks up the pieces?
      • As a nation painfully picks up the pieces of its shattered character, its people know they have a while to go before they eventually heal from years of pain and abuse.
      • These are two crashes that didn't need to happen and now the families are picking up the pieces.
      • His latest post will, in many ways, be about picking up the pieces to restore public confidence in social services.
      • It was wonderful, we were picking up the pieces of our lives again.

  • pick up the threads

    • Resume something that has been interrupted.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Despite destroyed homes and broken lives, the women have picked up the threads of their trade.
      • How do you pick up the threads of an old life, when you know in your heart, it will never be the same again.
      • You have to be able to remember where you were so you can pick up the threads and continue after an interruption.
      • So, we are slowly picking up the threads of our ‘normal’ lives although I confess I do feel as if I need a vacation from my vacation.
      • It was two years before she began to pick up the threads of her life.
      • We will pick up the threads of things that were done well in the last government.
      • He can now look forward to picking up the threads of his life having, to repeat his mother's words been ‘given the gift of life’.
      • You will, with the help of your parents, pick up the threads when you are released.
      • They visited some of the worst affected areas; they heard the stories from women who did not know how they would pick up the threads of their lives again.
      • Physically battered with no support, she picked up the threads of her life, working as a teacher in a private school.

Phrasal Verbs

  • pick someone/something off

    • 1Shoot a member of a group of people or things, aiming carefully from a distance.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • As many civilians tried to leave the city, they were picked off by snipers.
      • The flames of war burned brighter than ever within this divided family as one by one the members were picked off.
      • At the peak of the insurrection, the defenders ran out of tear gas, and snipers began attempts to pick them off.
      • The enemies are kind enough to walk one behind another in a straight line, making it easy to pick them off with sniper rifles.
      • Towards the middle of the game you will find yourself sneaking around, picking the enemy off from a distance, or using items to distract your opponents.
      • The snipers would pick you off but they are afraid to hit the little girl you are hiding in front of you.
      • And see if you can guess the order in which the other members of the research team will be picked off and which characters will make it to the end credits.
      • One by one they were picked off by the fell poison tipped arrows until it was just Dr. Steve.
      • Hardy's men were shooting down on the soldiers, picking them off one by one.
      • John squinted at the rusty cans, deciding which one to shoot first, and picked them off one by one.
      Synonyms
      shoot, shoot down, gun down, fire at, hit, put a bullet in
      1. 1.1Put out a runner by a pickoff.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • His arm is a strength - he not only shuts down basestealers but can pick runners off first base.
        • In a game at Tropicana Field last season between the Twins and Devil Rays, three Devil Ray base runners were picked off in one inning!
        • His first pass of the game was picked off by Atlanta on Sunday, giving the Falcons momentum.
        • He was known as the ‘computer’ of the team, possessing an uncanny ability to pick runners off of second base via the ‘hidden ball trick.’
        • Also, what if the pitcher picks the runner off base before he makes his first pitch to home?

  • pick on

    • Repeatedly single (someone) out for blame, criticism, or unkind treatment in a way perceived to be unfair.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • We have known each other since the fourth grade, when she helped me fight off a bully who was picking on me in the public park.
      • Like playground bullies, they've picked on the weakest of the pack.
      • Madison's been telling me a little boy in her class has been picking on her, teasing her.
      • Bullies pick on children who are alone, so can you encourage your child to make more friends and to bring them home?
      • Why everyone picks on the poor fellow just because he is not highly adept at running his personal finances, I cannot understand.
      • They argue with each other, pick on, insult and criticise each other, and they have fun doing it as well.
      • I was always quite fat as a child, I used to get teased about it and picked on.
      • ‘If someone picks on me I just ignore them and think ‘I'm better than you are’.
      • Andy, the youngest of three sons, was a very shy child who was picked on by bullies at school.
      • I always found it was appalling when an older kid bullied or picked on someone younger.
      Synonyms
      bully, victimize, tyrannize, torment, persecute

  • pick someone/something out

    • 1Distinguish someone or something among a group of people or things.

      Lester picked out two familiar voices
      Example sentencesExamples
      • But the selective pointillism that picks it out identifies an essential pre-requisite for effective political action.
      • He made no comment when questioned but the victim picked him out in an identity parade.
      • Now they are checking identity cards, bags and can pick people out for interrogation.
      • ‘I feel a bit vulnerable to be honest, because I haven't had any experience of the media,’ she says, ‘and even before we'd spoken to anyone they'd already sort of picked us out and slated us.’
      • In November, the victim picked the robber out of a video identification parade.
      • But an eyewitness to the attack picked him out after a video identification procedure.
      • She says: ‘I think murals are very educational for a child because from a young age they can pick things out on the mural and identify them.’
      • I heard his name, but I'd never be able to pick him out of a crowd.
      • She picked him out from his many siblings, including a twin brother, adopted him in secrecy and raised him in a life of privilege and safety.
      • But both girls picked him out of an identity parade.
      Synonyms
      see, discern, spot, distinguish, perceive, make out, detect, notice, observe, recognize, identify, catch sight of, glimpse, discover
      1. 1.1(of a light) illuminate an object by shining directly on it.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • "The light picked her out dramatically from the blurry dark background," he writes.
        • Again he came down past us, this time closer to the boat, and the light picked him out just below the surface.
        • He reached the middle just as a beam of strong light picked him out and he stood, dazzled, in the headlights of a long black limo.
        • The light picked her out as she stopped to slide her fingers through the grass and then moved slowly across the plaza toward the public fountain.
        • Other scars were older, old enough to have become no more than silvery lines, hard to see until the shifting light picked them out, like the teardrop-shaped scar under her eye.
        • The trios move in alternation as light from above picks them out, the grounded people waving their limbs like neophyte swimmers or fledglings learning to fly.
        • The powerful beans of light picked her out against the black, wet side of the cliff.
        • I asked him how he was caught and he told me that although he walked very small steps, every few metres dropping down into the grass, suddenly a small plane landed and picked him out in its lights.
        • It was weak at such a distance, but strong enough that its light picked them out. Gunfire followed immediately.
        • A dim light picked her out, revealing a very female figure clad in a sort of ribbon-robe and eye-mask.
      2. 1.2Distinguish shapes or letters from their surroundings by painting or fashioning them in a contrasting color or medium.
        the initials are picked out in diamonds
        Example sentencesExamples
        • An MG badge was cast in each cam cover at the front, with the letters and the octagon picked out in red.
        • The V for Victoria is picked out in diamonds, R for Regina in pearls and I for Imperatrix in turquoises.
        • Only the shields are picked out with carefully selected colours.
        • His watch was large and methodical, and on the outer case two hearts were picked out in diamonds from the dark solid gold.
        • The residents' lounge is furnished and decorated in keeping with its Victorian image, the plaster rosette on the ceiling is picked out in gold leaf, fawn and white.
        • The fuel tank was painted the same light blue as the wings with the retaining straps picked out in red to match the chassis.
        • The elaborate metalwork of the handsome old bridges spanning the river is picked out in brilliant colours.
        • The ornate plasterwork ceiling had lines and flowers picked out in gold leaf and deep red.
        • The cypher on the reverse is picked out in diamonds and dated 1911.
        • The basic color is a dark blue, the incised patterns being picked out in red, white, green, and yellow.

  • pick something over (or pick through)

    • Examine or sort through a number of items carefully.

      they picked through the charred remains of their home
      Example sentencesExamples
      • There it is picked over for anything reusable and the remains incinerated.
      • Following their return to the apartment, they had picked over the details of the attack, but succeeded in merely unravelling things further.
      • Papers were scattered over its surface as if they had been picked over to find a single piece of information.
      • She was certain news of her sudden sickness would reach the ears of the girls who had threatened her, and every little detail would be picked over, scrutinized even, to see if she had in any way flirted with or made a move on Mike.
      • They had been friends since they were seven, they didn't need to talk incessantly not to mention the events of the weekend had been picked over in detail on the phone the night before anyway.
      • Usually the high and low end of size range will only be available because the merchandise is picked over.
      • While he has been quite hazy about his history of drug use, the danger of being more precise is that the details could be picked over ad nauseam.
      • Once the anorak-wearing fraternity have picked it over for factual errors, the debate will start over who has been left out.
      • Of course, this was an era before counselling, before lawyers picked over the details of disaster.
      • Such problems have been picked over regularly by all and sundry, including this paper.

  • pick up

    • 1Become better; improve.

      my luck's picked up
      Example sentencesExamples
      • We have trained for summer rugby and our performances have improved since the weather picked up.
      • Tourism started off a bit slow this year, but picked up as the summer progressed.
      • Exports are expected to pick up, reflecting recovery in the eurozone economies, the country's main export market.
      • So if the input base of the economy is improving and working hours have been increasing then surely the rate of productivity improvement in Scotland must be picking up?
      • He doesn't see improvement until job growth picks up.
      • Consequently, the economy will not be able to pick up without the recovery of the banking industry.
      • Managers often become sentimental about products, hoping that sales will pick up when the market improves.
      • As a result, if the economy is to improve, investment must pick up.
      • But it does not expect an improvement until trade starts picking up towards the end of the winter.
      • General sales need to pick up before the business improves.
      Synonyms
      improve, get better, recover, mend, be on the road to recovery, rally, make a comeback, bounce back, perk up, look up, take a turn for the better, turn a corner, turn the corner, be given on a new lease of life, be take on a new lease of life, be on the mend, develop, make headway, progress, make progress, advance
      1. 1.1Become stronger; increase.
        the wind has picked up
        Example sentencesExamples
        • That evening the blizzard picks up again, with strong winds blowing snow across the flat delta.
        • Even stronger winds are expected to pick up over the weekend.
        • Forecasters are predicting that the icy conditions will continue into next week with easterly winds picking up and a strong possibility of snow.
        • The dewy grasses fluttered around Ryan as a stronger wind picked up and ripped them from the hill.
        • As the pace of the storm increased the wind picked up, driving down out of the hills and across the high grasslands.
        • As if to prove his point, a slightly stronger wind picked up, blowing Caelyn's hair into her face.
        • Treetops danced back and forth in the sky as the wind picked up in intensity, a sure sign of an impending storm.
        • The wind had picked up strength, thumping hard against the window every couple of minutes.
        • A strong wind picks up almost knocking me off the branch, as well as making leaves whip at my face.
        • I noticed the wind picking up and the lightening increasing, so I figured rain couldn't be far behind.
        Synonyms
        get stronger, strengthen, become more powerful, blow up

  • pick oneself up

    • Stand up again after a fall.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • However, he quickly picked himself up and the ball fell kindly into his path once again.
      • If he fell, he picked himself up and got straight back on to the climb.
      • And then again, he finally picks himself up, only to fall again.
      • Once, she fell and couldn't pick herself up but I dragged her nonetheless.
      • I picked myself up and straightened my clothes.
      • She fell but picked herself up just as quickly, continuing to shove her way through in anxiety, ignoring their angry yelps and hollers.
      • She picked herself up and straightened out her jacket and shirt, she felt in the pocket and pulled out her cigarettes.
      • You'll learn the basics, including turning, stopping, adjusting your bindings and, of course, picking yourself up when you fall.
      • ‘Not funny’ Jonathon grumbled, picking himself up and straightening out.
      • But it doesn't seem to matter - when they fall they simply pick themselves up, dust themselves off and get straight back on, just as you're supposed to.

  • pick someone up

    • 1Go somewhere to collect someone, typically in one's car and according to a prior arrangement.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • But what's to stop her from just picking us up at the hotel?
      • The time Carla picked me up from the train station in my mother's manual car, even though at that stage she could only drive an automatic.
      • Archer picks her up from the train station, and they talk in the carriage about the impossibility of their love.
      • My aunt lives there, and my grandma is trying to arrange for her to pick me up from the train station.
      • I tell you what, you can pick me up from the train station at about half past six, OK?
      • Renae's parents picked her up from the train station at 6'o'clock in the evening to take her home.
      • The school was nearby and they picked me up for training a few days later.
      • She came all the way to pick you up from training.
      • I don't even remember picking you up from the train station!
      • With the weather like this, I didn't mind why my parents didn't pick me up from my bus stop today.
      Synonyms
      fetch, collect, go to get, come and get, go and get, call for, come for, go for
      1. 1.1Stop for someone and take them into one's vehicle or vessel.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • And it has its own jetty, where you can be picked up by boat and spirited to the superior diving and snorkelling sites around Tiran.
        • He said some passengers scrambled onto nearby Highway 401, where cars stopped, picked them up and took them to the airport.
        • The taxi passed through the main drinking area, and people were literally throwing themselves on the bonnet of the car to try and force it to stop and pick them up.
        • As most of the hotels are on the waterfront, the boats will pick you up from the jetty behind yours and drop you back.
        • The regular train came along, stopped, picked her up and off she went.
        • This driver saw the students running to the stop but refused to stop and pick them up.
        • After about an hour we were picked up by another boat and taken to shore.
        • On Aug.30, rescuers picked him up in a boat and deposited him on an interstate.
        • The ferry stopped, launched a boat and picked them up - they had paddled 14 miles across the Channel - at 7am.
        • If you hail another type of cab and it stops to pick you up, then your journey in that cab will not be covered by insurance.
      2. 1.2informal Arrest someone.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • One day the police pick him up and an inspector interviews him; he is released for lack of evidence.
        • The same night the police raided the houses of many relatives to pick them up.
        • Robert and Brendan were picked up by a passing police patrol car.
        • When told of the reason for the rejected claim, the patient produced an arrest warrant stating that she has been picked up for prostitution and her prescription was confiscated by the police.
        • She called the police, who promptly picked him up.
        • Although he had been picked up by the police on a routine check, he was not ill-treated by them.
        • They just said all they had to do was get a warrant for his arrest and go and pick him up.
        • Early morning of 12 September, a team of police officers picked him up from the outskirts of his village.
        • Two weeks ago, Alex was picked up and arrested for assault and prostitution.
        • But detectives said they were not going to pick him up as he was not wanted in relation to any charges or criminal investigations.
        Synonyms
        arrest, apprehend, detain, take into custody, take prisoner, seize, capture, catch, take in
      3. 1.3informal Casually strike up a relationship with someone one has never met before, as a sexual overture.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • I ran into him at a club in my early 20s, and he tried to pick me up.
        • He tried to pick me up at the bar. I am not sure how I feel about it.
        • I want you to stop picking me up for practice or bothering me in the halls.
        • I ran into him years later at a senior class car wash when I was eighteen and he tried to pick me up.
        • But, I met him when I was 18 years old - by accident - he tried to pick me up in a bar when I was out with my friends.
        • I talked to a guy online for about a minute and a half and he tried to pick me up.
        • If I'm in drag, and he picks me up at a gay bar, is it a queer relationship?
        • ‘Only if you stop trying to pick me up,’ said Shelley, but the smile on her face told Zachary she found his antics amusing.
        • He was with the woman who had picked him up at the train station, a Colombian poet.
        • A few weeks later he tried to pick me up at a bar.
        Synonyms
        strike up a casual acquaintance with, strike up a casual relationship with, take up with
      4. 1.4Make someone feel more energetic and cheerful.
        songs to pick you up and make you feel good

  • pick something up

    • 1Collect something that has been left elsewhere.

      Wanda came over to pick up her things
      Example sentencesExamples
      • If your magic runs a bit short, you can order a copy from the local bookstore, and the hotel will pick it up and deliver it to you after midnight.
      • When she came to pick up her things I made her some lunch and we had a little chat.
      • He would have had to hire a private contractor to come pick that stuff up.
      • But by the time they went to pick up the suitcase, it could not be found.
      • Anyway, they came to pick up her things that were stored in the basement this summer.
      • Whilst we sat waiting for our food to arrive, a steady stream of customers came to pick up take-away orders.
      • I was emailed to pick it up from another building.
      • ‘They told me to take the bag home and they informed Royal Mail, who came and picked it up,’ she said.
      • Then her father came to pick up her things - her clothes, tennis shoes, a bottle of mineral water.
      • I'm afraid she doesn't work here anymore, just this morning she came to pick up her things.
      • Once you have obtained your ticket, your luggage will be picked up shortly.
      • He just came to pick up his things - and to give Brooke back his wedding ring!
      • His brother picked it up and delivered it to him within moments.
      • But one day when I came to pick up my things they weren't there. There was nothing there, no sign of them anywhere.
      • I wish I could have personally met you when I came to pick up the suitcase on Tuesday.
      1. 1.1informal Pay the bill for something, especially when others have contributed to the expense.
        as usual, we had to pick up the tab
        Example sentencesExamples
        • It is understood around €3 million has been incurred by the aviation regulator's office, whose costs will be picked up by the authorities in addition to its own bill.
        • But the Council is £200,000 in the red, the executive committee heard yesterday, and if that is still the case next year the bill will be picked up by the authority.
        • Who picked up the tab for his childhood immunisations and his education?
        • She added: "In line with 'polluter pays' principle it's time the tobacco companies picked up the tab for the harm their products are doing."
        • So there's a sort of change in the attitude towards social welfare in the sense that people believe that they're being forced to pick that bill up, but generally people felt that more money should be available.
        • The rest of the bill is picked up by private insurance companies who decide what they'll pay in their corporate boardrooms.
        • Unlike the board, whose legal bills are picked up by the public, opponents of school closings often run out of money to continue their fights.
        • When they played well, he handed out cash bonuses and picked up bar tabs. When they lost, he still picked up the tab.
        • The bills were picked up by some of the biggest names in the business world.
        • In which event, any medical bills will be picked up by the taxpayer, not by the company.
      2. 1.2North American Tidy a room or building.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • The cabin steward picked up the room and made the beds at least twice a day, and she was very nice.
        • So, instead of just verbally telling him, "Pick up your room," we write down: Put dirty clothes in laundry basket, Put magazines on shelf, Put LEGOs back in box.
        • Every day someone made up the beds and picked up the room while we were out.
        • We picked up the room, got dressed, and prepared Brandon's breakfast.
        • I set Lucie on the couch and picked up the room making it just as neat as it was when we left.

    • 2Obtain, acquire, or learn something, especially without formal arrangements or instruction.

      he had picked up a little Russian from his father
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Vic had learned to drive at fourteen, from his old man, and had picked it up as easily as fishes learn to swim.
      • They also learn very quickly and easily pick things up.
      • He picked it up quickly, learning by himself because he thought it was fun.
      • He picked it up quickly - watched a lot of TV and learnt to read English.
      • It's the only way to learn and it's amazing how quickly you can pick it up.
      • Coming from a keyboard, having learned to read, once I picked it up and learned how to blow it, the music came quicker.
      • I started to learn Thai, I just seem to pick it up and now can speak it pretty well.
      • He has certainly picked things up quicker than I imagined.
      • She was all right with it when her girlfriends found out but she was not too comfortable now that unfamiliar people around her were picking this information up.
      • Posters around the village give details of the events and information where competition forms can be picked up.
      Synonyms
      find, discover, locate, come across, stumble across, happen on, chance on, unearth, obtain, come by, come to have, get, receive, procure
      learn, get to know, acquire, acquire a knowledge of, acquire skill in, become competent in, become proficient in, master
      hear, hear tell, find out, get to know, get wind of, be informed of, be told, learn, be made aware of, be given to understand
      1. 2.1Catch an illness or infection.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • Once chlamydia has been successfully treated, it won't come back unless a new infection is picked up.
        • The mosquitoes pick the virus up from biting infected pigs or waterfowl and then pass the virus on when they bite humans.
        • But she is very susceptible to infections and if she were to pick something up then it could be fatal.
        • Some infections can be picked up by pregnant women and transferred to the developing baby via the placenta.
        • Any infection or disease present in the slurry can be picked up by these people and animals in the course of their headlong, indiscriminate rush to the killing scene.
        • Meningococcal meningitis vaccines is also required by the authorities as these infections can be picked up from fellow travellers (carriers).
        • Many new cases are picked up by men sleeping with infected prostitutes in places like Thailand, where the virus is rife.
        • For every patient and their family there is no acceptable level of MRSA but we all know that when people are in an acute hospital system, there is a chance that an infection can be picked up.
        • Previously worn and dirty clothes contain the same foul odour producing bacteria and you will pick the infection up again within seconds of contact.
        • They in turn will multiply the infection and the later lambs to pick it up will become very badly infected.
        Synonyms
        catch, contract, get, become infected with, become ill with, come down with, go down with

    • 3Detect or receive a signal or sound, especially by means of electronic apparatus.

      Example sentencesExamples
      • It amplifies them, and sends them out, just like a radio, and the receiver picks them up in the other person ear.
      • These electromagnetic waves are picked up by your car's antenna and then converted into recognizable noise - music, talk shows, and the like - by the tuner.
      • The reflected signals are picked up by microphones in the cane handle, processed by a miniature computer, then converted into pulses which the user can feel through his hand.
      • The signals were picked up late yesterday after an all-day search for the spacecraft, which had suddenly stopped communicating after its launch, the US scientists had said.
      • These signals are picked up by a handheld receiver.
      • One of its benefits will be anyone sending distress signals from land or sea will know immediately if their signal has been picked up.
      • The air force forced a light plane to land on Saturday after an emergency signal was picked up indicating the aircraft had been hijacked.
      • The reflected sound waves are picked up by the crystal element and transformed back into electric signals.
      • Of the 18 access points whose signals were picked up, 13 were sending unencrypted messages.
      • These signals are picked up by a computer and turned into detailed pictures.
      Synonyms
      receive, detect, get, hear
      1. 3.1Become aware of or sensitive to something.
        she is very quick to pick up emotional atmospheres
        Example sentencesExamples
        • Body work performed on owners and pets works well because animals pick up on stress and often mimic their owners.
        • The penalty for misclassifying a genotoxic compound (false negatives that reflect low sensitivity) is low as it would be picked up in the later regulatory test.
        • Babies and toddlers do pick up on stress in the home and often act out what they are unable to put into words.
        • These emotions can be picked up; dogs smell fear, a child knows if it is loved or not, and so forth.
        • She's pretty sensitive at picking these things up.
        • A lot of infections can be picked up very early.
        • The problems were picked up when an infection control nurse, who started work with the PCT this spring, examined procedures at the surgery.
        • Sufferers normally have a one-in-three chance of survival, depending on how early the symptoms are picked up.
        • Children pick up on stress so if you're unhappy, they will be too.
        • The faster these changes are picked up the quicker you will be able to react to drops in rankings.
      2. 3.2Find and take a particular road or route.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • I dropped down into Balmaha, which seemed to be mostly closed, and picked up the road heading North alongside the Loch.
        • Eventually, after asking for directions a number of times, we picked up the road south and headed off.
        • I'm already looking forward to returning in a few years to pick the road up where I've left off.
        • We then picked up the road again and followed it through to our next downhill, a rocky, fast, narrow trail which deposits the rider at great speed at the foot of Biggin Hill.
        • You can pick the road up in Saunces, at the top of town next to Viares Square, home of the Town Hall.

    • 4Resume something.

      they picked up their friendship without the slightest difficulty
      Example sentencesExamples
      • Last year they had a falling out but in the past few months had made amends with each other and picked up their friendship where they had left off.
      • The evening ended with a good-night kiss, and they quickly picked up their relationship where they'd left off. "We fell in love all over again," Dave says.
      • I didn't get a chance to finish it but I think I'll pick it up soon.
      • They picked up their relationship almost from where they'd left off, but it wasn't the same.
      • The two young men were acquainted with each other and picked up their friendship again Sunday.
      • They laughed about their shared affection for Martinis and picked up their friendship where they'd left off.
      Synonyms
      begin again, begin, take up, start again, start, resume, recommence, carry on, go on, continue
      1. 4.1Refer to or develop a point or topic mentioned earlier.
        Dawson picked up her earlier remark
        Example sentencesExamples
        • I am appalled this issue was not picked up on in the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.
        • When these inaccuracies were picked up on by the blog community and exposed by several news outlets, the story was removed from the News web site.
        • But my sister made a very moving speech and picked it up on my behalf.
        • I realise that some people have been frustrated that their particular concerns have not been picked up on, but a number of the issues raised were important but were not within the scope of the bill.
        • And given the scientist adherence to a kind of Creative Commons ethos, their developments could be picked up and expanded upon by anyone in those fields, but no one could actually own the development itself.
        • A lot of the Cultural Commission's recommendations have been picked up and used.
        • For when he did make an outrageous remark it was picked up on, and he was fired within hours.
        • The press picked up his remark and on the front page of the newspaper the next day, I was depicted in a cartoon.
        • Someone here other than us has finally picked this story up.
        • Often in things like this, one journalist builds a list of instances, and then it gets flipped from story to story as other journalists pick it up.
        • I think it's interesting what traditions are picked up on and what countries are referenced in that.
        • Those things have not been picked up on because we are in Opposition, and they are what anybody would expect to hear from an Opposition.
        • Soon after, the Melbourne Age reported on the lone refugee's plight, and the story was picked up widely.
        • He picked up on a story that had been on ABC News two days earlier.
        • He picked up his remark, replying "Yes, taking care of eight children is a man sized job."
      2. 4.2(of an object or color) attractively accentuate the color of something else by being of a similar shade.
        Example sentencesExamples
        • The landscape picks up the blues, the green-brown, and the grey-browns of the foreground.
        • The area rug picks up the blues in the pre-existing furniture while introducing a range of browns into the mix.
        • This will provide a nice grassy feeling underfoot, and you can easily pick this color up in throw pillows or other accents.
        • The focal is a lampwork bead with a dark coral base and encased in silvered glass which picks up the blues and creams very well from the necklace.
        • It is framed in natural wood, which picks up the browns of the bureau on which the cup and letter rest.
        • The room is carpeted with a loop pile in a medium toned brown that picks up the browns in the fireplace travertine.

  • pick up after

    • Tidy up things left strewn around by (someone).

      Example sentencesExamples
      • Environmentally conscious citizens tired of picking up after careless smokers are welcoming the formation of the national anti-butt littering body.
      • I'm tired of doing all the work around here and picking up after everybody
      • So I made a bold decision: I cleaned my room, threw out all the dirty candy wrappers and half finished pop cans, dusted off old books, and picked up after myself.
      • Though she would never admit to it, it sure felt good to have a man to pick up after.
      • Through a huge duration of my life, someone has always picked up after me.
      • Jas still lives at home and still picks up after me.
      • A spokesman for the group said: ‘Too much money is spent on picking up after mindless litter louts.’
      • You have no conscience, no sense of responsibility, and I am sick unto death of picking up after you!
      • It's an idea that seems to be garnering preliminary approval from outdoor professionals who must log time picking up after careless campers.
      • If I were to be someone's guest for a week, I'd pick up after myself.

Origin

Middle English (earlier as pike, which continues in dialect use): of unknown origin. Compare with Dutch pikken ‘pick, peck’, and German picken ‘peck, puncture’, also with French piquer ‘to prick’.

pick2

nounpɪkpik

  • 1A tool consisting of a long handle set at right angles in the middle of a curved iron or steel bar with a point at one end and a chisel edge or point at the other, used for breaking up hard ground or rock.

    Example sentencesExamples
    • The head is welded directly to the shaft, so if the pick breaks, the tool is ruined.
    • The newer combination entrenching tool added a pick, which helped break up hard soil.
    • The standard tools of the navvies were picks, shovels and a wheelbarrow.
    • There were picks, shovels, knives, swords and axes.
    • Kate slammed her pick into the rock wall of the quarry.
    • She said it was painful that as a woman she had had to work so hard with a pick.
    • They worked with picks, breaking up the soil which was then passed through a riddle to recover artefacts.
    • But when he came back from lunch break, his pick had been stolen.
    • Soon he learnt to recognise, simply from looking at a dried patch of mud, whether it was worth breaking its crust with his pick.
    • Their tools were jacks, picks, crowbars, wheelbarrows and handcarts.
    • Men threw picks, rocks and all sorts of things at the guards.
    • Every one scattered and began hastily pounding on the rock walls with their picks.
    • All day for a week, she and other members of her team scoured the arid landscape for fossils, their only tools a tiny pick and a brush.
    • The raiders broke in the door of the post office at the corner in the village and tried to dislodge the safe using picks and chisels.
    • The ice at this stage had fused into one large mass and had to be broken with a pick before it could be used.
    • Even as she swung the pick into the rock, he could see how difficult it was for her.
    • To speed the process on rougher surfaces, they also used a scabbling pick, which was similar to an ordinary pick only shorter of handle and stout of casting.
    • Soon we encountered rocks and went back to get picks.
    • What they have to understand is that this place was once just a hole in the ground cut by teams of labourers with picks and shovels and lots and lots of dynamite.
    • He pulled up on his ice tools, their picks precariously dug into soft snow.

  • 2An instrument for picking.

    an ebony hair pick
    Example sentencesExamples
    • The woman dressed in the loose, mint colored smock was carefully using a pick to arrange the hair of the woman in her chair.
    • Using a hair pick or the tail of a rattail comb separate out a strand of hair from the front section of the hairline near the forehead.
    • You even carry a hair pick in the back pocket of your excruciatingly tight black jeans - just in case it gets a little windy.
    • Tousle the hair with a styling pick before finishing with a holding spray.
    • They will also require tools to unsnarl their hair; a pick and a vented hair brush work very well.
    1. 2.1informal A plectrum.
      a pink guitar pick
      Example sentencesExamples
      • With a shrug he got out his pick, shifted the guitar in his lap, and played the notes on the stanzas.
      • It was mindblowingly loud when they started attacking the strings with picks, each guitar hooked up to an amp.
      • The strings are made of silk or nylon and are plucked by the artist with picks called plectrum attached to their thumb and first two fingers.
      • She reached into her pocket, and pulled out a thick black cord with a green guitar pick attached to it.
      • I grabbed my guitar pick in my hand and started to strum on the chords.
      • He admitted this was only his fourth show without a backing band, which may account for him dropping his pick into the guitar midsong.
      • He threw a guitar pick at Connor who caught it after 2 attempts.
      • ‘Come in,’ Jason said as he strummed at his electric guitar with a well-worn pick.
      • Laura patted her pockets, finally coming up with her guitar pick and one of Carrie's colored pencils.
      • He picks up a handful of guitar picks and heads for the checkout.
      • Jackie smiled at the freshman, holding a guitar in one hand, music in the other, and a guitar pick in between her teeth.
      • He pushed past the boys that had been talking about getting his guitar pick and swept me up in his arms.
      • She became aware of the guitar pick in her pocket once again, then pushed thoughts of it out of her mind.
      • Once they found their bags, they stuffed them with everything from clothes and toiletries to spare picks and drumsticks.
      • I was leaning against the wall, mindlessly strumming my guitar, my fingers clutching a bright green pick, my hair falling into my eyes.
      • Pat threw his drumsticks into the crowd, while Jay threw his guitar pick.
      • Her battered old acoustic guitar lay on her untidily made bed along with several of the Tolkein novels and a box of guitar picks.
      • He finally picked out everything, from the guitar to picks to the strap and amp, wrote it all down and came up with the exact cost.
      • He had a guitar pick in his mouth and had his facial hair trimmed into a soul patch.
      • I went to my drawer where I kept my new strings but all that was in it was a notebook, some pens and guitar picks.

Origin

Middle English: variant of pike.

verb.1
phr.
phr.v.
noun.1
 
 
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更新时间：2025/1/27 21:37:30