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pick-up stick

American  
[pik-uhp] / ˈpɪkˌʌp /

noun

  1. one of a group of sticks used in the game of jackstraws.

  2. (used with a singular verb) pick-up sticks the game of jackstraws.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later, Irwin expanded the size of his canvas but reduced the amount of visual material to a scattering of lines in a series known as the Pick-Up Stick paintings; these led to the even more austere Line Paintings, in which he hand-painted straight lines onto monochrome backgrounds, giving an earthy purity to these elemental geometrical figures.

From Washington Post

Says Twins Third Base Coach Karl Kuehl: "He handles that bar like it's a pick-up stick."

From Time Magazine Archive