pick at

Friendly

Explanation of "Pick At"

The phrase "pick at" is a verb that has a few different meanings. Here’s a breakdown to help you understand it better:

Academic

Verb

1. express a negative opinion of
   • She disparaged her student's efforts
2. eat like a bird
   • The anorexic girl just picks at her food
3. pluck or pull at with the fingers
   • She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse

Synonyms

• disparage
• belittle
• peck at
• peck
• pluck at
• pull at