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

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

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

The Lakers didn’t have a first-round pick, but they have a second-round pick at No. 55.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2025

Vance said Trump had weighed announcing Vance as his VP pick at the Butler rally but ultimately decided to hold off.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2024

When Harris introduced Walz as her vice-presidential pick at a Philadelphia rally in early August, she repeatedly referred to him as “Coach Walz” - and highlighted his high-school educator background.

From BBC • Sep. 30, 2024

She paused to pick at a rock that had tangled itself into the wool, then continued, “I mean, you won’t escape us either—who can escape an accident?—but at that moment, I wasn’t referring to us.”

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri