HomeServicesBlogDictionariesContactSpanish Course
Home › Dictionary › English › pick on
← Back to search

Meaning of pick on | Babel Free

Verb CEFR B2

Definitions

  1. To bully, harass, or make fun of a victim; to bother or harass.
    transitive
  2. To select (a person) for a task, etc.
    transitive

Equivalents

Deutsch hänseln herumhacken auf mobben schikanieren
Español agarrársela[s] con hacer rabiar hostigar lornear meterse con tomárselas con
Suomi keljuilla kiusata kuittailla ryppyillä tölviä vinoilla
Français embêter
Magyar pikkel
Italiano aversela
日本語 いじめる
Polski czepiać czepić
Português implicar meter-se
Română hărțui
Svenska hacka
Türkçe bulaşmak sataşmak takmak zorbalamak
Українська чіплятися

Examples

“Hey! Quit picking on your brother.”
“Had no friends, picked on 'cause I was weak”
“Deciding that he hasn't had enough action for one day, Captain Evans of the Johnston orders another 180-degree about-face to give gunfire support to the new arrivals, this time picking on the heavy cruiser Tone.”
“The teacher picked on me to answer the question.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.
See all B2 English words →

See also

pick one's battles pick one's nose pick one's way pick oneself up off the floor pick out pick out of a hat

Learn this word in context

See pick on used in real conversations inside our free language course.

Start Free Course

Know this word better than we do? Language is a living thing — help us keep it growing. Collaborate with Babel Free