Meaning of pick at | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To touch, grab, handle, or pull tentatively or gingerly, using a utensil or one's fingers.
   idiomatic, transitive
2. Synonym of peck at.
   idiomatic, transitive
3. To pick on or repeatedly criticize (someone).
   idiomatic, transitive

Examples

“Mr Vholes remained immovable, except that he secretly picked at one of the red pimples on his yellow face with his black glove.”

“He began to pick at the fussy fringe on the arm of his chair.”

“Picking at a salad in a conference room at Google’s headquarters here, Ms. Mayer says she is vexed by how some perceive her.”

“"[N]oise and disrespect of no kind ain't pleasin' to him. His own folks behave becomin', but strangers go and act as they like. . . . Then we are picked at for their doin's."”

“"And I know she's my aunt, but she needn't pick at me all the time," she added defiantly.”

“"I get crabby and pick at him about stupid things that wouldn’t normally bother me."”

CEFR level