# pen picture

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pen-picture
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A written description, often biographical.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

From pen + picture, a compound appearing in English to denote a literary description that functions with the visual clarity of a drawing.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.