Definition
To touch, grab, handle, or pull tentatively or gingerly, using a utensil or one's fingers.
To pick on or repeatedly criticize (someone).
In Context
- "Mr Vholes remained immovable, except that he secretly picked at one of the red pimples on his yellow face with his black glove."
- "He began to pick at the fussy fringe on the arm of his chair."
- "Picking at a salad in a conference room at Google’s headquarters here, Ms. Mayer says she is vexed by how some perceive her."
- ""[N]oise and disrespect of no kind ain't pleasin' to him. His own folks behave becomin', but strangers go and act as they like. . . . Then we are picked at for their doin's.""
- ""And I know she's my aunt, but she needn't pick at me all the time," she added defiantly."
- ""I get crabby and pick at him about stupid things that wouldn’t normally bother me.""
Also Said As
- fiddle with
- toy with