pick over

Idioms  

1. Sort out, examine item by item, as in Dad hates to pick over the beans one by one. This term is sometimes put as picked over, describing something that has already been selected from (as in They have almost nothing left; the stock of bathing suits has been picked over). [First half of 1800s]

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Example Sentences

As demand waned in the following years, companies conducted mass layoffs, leading private-equity firms to swoop in to pick over the remains of distressed assets.

From MarketWatch • May 23, 2026

And doubtless some Scotland fans will as they pick over the pieces of another defeat in which their endeavour and good intentions went to waste.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2025

What did the Magic see that made Banchero the pick over Jabari Smith Jr., who was widely expected to go first during the pre-draft process?

From Washington Post • Jul. 11, 2022

Even though Allen lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in their head-to-head matchup, Simms still believes Allen is the pick over the former Super Bowl MVP.

From Fox News • Mar. 6, 2022

Made him feel like a little kid, stupid and obvious, the way the urchins looked when they were hanging out behind Chen’s grub shack, hoping he’d toss out bones for them to pick over.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi