pick holes
To find weaknesses, errors or imperfections (in).
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“It is easy to pick holes in someone else's work.”
“The manager loves to pick holes in every report I submit, even when the data is accurate.”
“Rather than offering constructive feedback, the critic spent the entire evening trying to pick holes in the author's complex argument.”
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ace in the hole
Synonym of ace up one's sleeve.
- 02
blow a hole through
To destroy the integrity or cohesion of.
- 03
burn a hole in someone's pocket
To cause someone to spend money or be tempted to spend money.
- 04
captain's pick
A decision made by a leader without consulting others.
- 05
crawl into a hole
To hide or disappear due to feelings of extreme embarrassment, shame, or helplessness; to withdraw from reality.
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dig a hole for oneself
To take an action or create a situation from which it is difficult to extricate.
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dig oneself in a hole
To put oneself in even more trouble.
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dig out of a hole
To save someone or something from trouble.
Last updated August 10, 2026