pick at
Third Person
picks at
Present Participle
picking at
Past Tense
picked at
Past Participle
picked at
1
to frequently criticize someone about small issues
- Critics always seem to pick at her performances no matter how well she does.
- He has a tendency to pick at small mistakes in other people's work.
- Instead of appreciating her efforts, he constantly picked at the details.
- Why do you always pick at her choices?Let her be.
- Management picked at the proposal, demanding countless revisions.
Antonyms:
2
to touch or tug on something repeatedly
- It's not good to pick at scabs; it might lead to scars.
- Children often pick at stickers until they peel them off entirely.
- She nervously picked at the loose thread on her shirt during the interview.
- While waiting for the doctor, he picked at the bandage on his finger.
- The cat curiously picked at the toy with its paw.
3
to eat only a small amount of food
- She just picked at her food during dinner, claiming she wasn't hungry.
- If you keep picking at your meals, you won't get enough nutrients.
- Despite ordering a large plate, he only picked at it and barely ate anything.
- Children often pick at vegetables they don't like.
- She's been picking at her meals ever since she started that diet.