Phrasal verb
pick at
Definition
phrasal verb. to eat very little of your meal because you are not hungry or are feeling sad. You can also use this when you touch or pull something small with your fingers many times.
phrasal verb. to eat food in small, infrequent bites, typically due to a lack of appetite or interest. It also describes the action of repeatedly touching or pulling at a small object or a part of the body with the fingers.
Examples
“Stop picking at that scab or it will never heal.”
“She was so worried about the exam results that she could only pick at her salad during lunch.”
“While the rest of the guests enjoyed the feast, the grieving widow merely picked at her plate, her mind clearly elsewhere.”
Examples
simple
“Stop picking at that scab or it will never heal.”
contextual
“She was so worried about the exam results that she could only pick at her salad during lunch.”
complex
“While the rest of the guests enjoyed the feast, the grieving widow merely picked at her plate, her mind clearly elsewhere.”
Usage
This verb is transitive and always requires an object, such as food or a physical irritation.
Teaching tip
Distinguish this from 'pick on', which means to tease or bully someone, as students often confuse the two due to the shared base verb.
Pitfall
He picked his dinner.
He picked at his dinner.
Without 'at', the verb 'pick' means to choose or select, which changes the meaning entirely.
Phrasal verb
Particles
at
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
pick + at + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/pick-at