pick at

British  

verb

1. (intr, preposition) to make criticisms of in a niggling or petty manner

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pick at Idioms  

1. Pluck or pull at, especially with the fingers, as in She was always picking at her skirt with her nails . [1600s]

2. Eat sparingly and without appetite, as in He was just picking at his dinner . [Late 1500s]

3. Nag, badger, as in He's picking at me all day long . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pick at

And he is yet to feature in The Hundred - in which he was a wildcard pick at Northern Superchargers, where his father was coach last summer - or the T20 Blast.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

That gave the Rams the Falcons’ pick at No. 13 and their own at No. 29.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 25, 2026

The number one pick at this year's Draft, the 18-year-old forward finished with 42 points, seven rebounds and six assists at Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

From BBC ● Dec. 16, 2025

Thanks to its record and growth prospects, Alibaba stock is a top pick at Jefferies.

From Barron's ● Oct. 9, 2025

We pick at the food, push it around our plates.

From "Without Refuge" by Jane Mitchell