# pick at

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pick-at
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He picked his dinner." but "He picked at his dinner." — Without 'at', the verb 'pick' means to choose or select, which changes the meaning entirely.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.