pick over
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To examine items carefully and selectively, often removing the best or desired parts and leaving the rest. It implies a critical, detailed sorting through a group of things.
Usage
The verb "pick over" is used to describe the action of going through a collection of items in a slow, careful, and often挑剔 manner. It typically has a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that the best parts are being taken, leaving behind the less desirable items. It is commonly used with objects like food, merchandise, or remains.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to be picked over" (passive voice): Describes a state where something has already been subjected to selective removal, leaving a poor selection.
- The bargain bin was completely picked over; there was nothing good left.
Variants and Related Words
- Pick through: A very similar phrasal verb meaning to search through something carefully, often by moving items aside.
- She picked through the rubble after the storm.
Synonyms
- Sift through: To examine something thoroughly to find what you want.
- Sort through: To look through a group of items and arrange them by type or quality.
- Go through: To examine or search something carefully.
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Pick out: To choose or select something from a group (focuses on the act of choosing, not the leaving behind).
- Can you help me pick out a tie for this shirt?
- Pick at: To eat food slowly, without interest, or to touch or pull at something repeatedly.
- He just picked at his dinner.
Related Idioms
- Pick and choose: To select only the very best or exactly what one wants from a number of possibilities.
- You can't just pick and choose which rules to follow.
- Pick someone's brain: To ask someone questions in order to obtain detailed information or advice from them.
- I'd like to pick your brain about your marketing strategy.
Verb
- separate or remove
- The customer picked over the selection