pen picture
A written description, often biographical.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“She wrote a short pen picture of the new manager.”
“Before the interview, the committee read a brief pen picture of each candidate to understand their background.”
“The author provided a vivid pen picture of the artist, capturing both his professional struggles and his quiet, reflective nature.”
From pen + picture, a compound appearing in English to denote a literary description that functions with the visual clarity of a drawing.
- 01
mixed picture
A situation in which both negatives and positives are found.
- 02
paint a rosy picture
To describe a situation or prospective set of events in an upbeat, optimistic manner.
- 03
poison pen
A manner, means, or tone of expression had by a written work, characterized by spitefulness, defamation, and/or intimidation directed toward a person, organization, or point of view.
- 04
pretty pictures
Image supplements in a presentation: graphs, charts, etc.
- 05
put pen to paper
To write something (especially using pen and ink).
- 06
slip of the pen
A mistake in handwriting; (loosely) any minor error by the writer that made it into print, having not been caught by editors or proofreaders.
- 07
take a picture
To photographically capture an image
- 08
the pen is mightier than the sword
More influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.
Last updated August 10, 2026