pick on

verb

1. (tr, preposition) to select (someone) for something unpleasant, esp in order to bully, blame, or cause to perform a distasteful task

Idioms and Phrases

Tease, bully, victimize, as in She told Mom the boys were always picking on her. [Second half of 1800s] This expression is sometimes put as pick on someone your own size, meaning “don't badger someone who is younger, smaller, or weaker than yourself but do so only to an equal.”

Example Sentences

Shares have surged nearly 50% since we published the pick on June 5, when they closed at $95.18.

Read more on Barron's

Back in 2020, the Dolphins used the No. 5 pick on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the Chargers used No. 6 on Justin Herbert.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The winless New York Giants used a first-round pick on Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart, and Sunday they’ll get a first regular-season glimpse at that investment.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"In my mind, I keep asking that soldier: why pick on a 13-year-old boy? I'm standing right next to him. Shoot me. Why are you shooting children? I'm here, shoot me."

Read more on BBC

Maybe Mike Tyson should pick on someone his own size.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• badger 
• bully 
• get at 
• tease 
• torment