Question

pick at

Accepted Answer

pick at
1. pick at sth to eat only small amounts of food without showing much interest in it, for example because you are not hungry or you are thinking about something else:
▪ Chantal was picking at the salad without much enthusiasm.
▪ Paige was so worried she could only pick at her meal, forcing down a mouthful or two.
2. pick at sth to scratch or pull something gently again and again:
▪ Wayne sat on a log, picking at an old scab on his knee.
▪ "So," said Andrea, picking at a pool of wax on the table, "why did you come back?"
3. pick at sb especially AmE to keep criticizing someone or complaining about things that they do, especially things that are not very important:
▪ My two boys pick at each other all day about stupid little things.

Pick Picking Sth Things Eat Small Amounts Food