10 English Phrasal Verbs With 'PICK'

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10 phrasal verbs with 'PICK'

Pick apart

1. Criticise, find fault
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The critics PICKED the film APART.

Pick at

1. Eat unwillingly
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I wasn't very hungry so I just PICKED AT my food.
2. Criticise
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: There were a few problems that could be PICKED AT, but it was generally good.

Pick off

1. Target individuals to change a group
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: There were many rebels against the policy, but the government PICKED OFF the leaders.

Pick on

1. Bother, annoy, criticize or make fun of someone
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: My friends always PICK ON me because I don't sing well.

Pick out

1. Choose
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: She PICKED OUT the ones she wanted to take and left the rest.
2. Identify from a picture
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: The victim couldn't PICK OUT her attacker from the photos the police showed her.

Pick through

1. Search something that is disordered for something
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The police have been PICKING THROUGH the wreckage for clues.

Pick up

1. Improve
   (Intransitive | International English)
   
   » Example: Sales PICKED UP a bit during the Christmas period.
2. Learn quickly
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: She PICKED UP Spanish in six months.
3. Collect
   (Separable [optional] | International English | Contributed By: BobK)
   
   » Example: While you're in town, can you PICK UP my trousers from the Dry Cleaner?
4. Receive (a broadcast)
   (Separable [optional] | International English)
   
   » Example: When we rent a holiday cottage in Cornwall, we can't PICK UP Channel 5.
5. Collect (a person). This differs from the 'collect a thing' meaning - as that means 'collect and bring back' whereas this means either (i) 'collect and drop off on your way' or (ii) 'collect and bring to the same destination'.
   (Separable [optional] | International English | Contributed By: BobK)
   
   » Example: i) Can you PICK me UP and take me to The George when you go to the party? ii) Can you PICK UP some friends of mine on your way to the party? They're going too.

Pick up after

1. Tidy a mess someone else has made
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I always have to PICK UP AFTER him because he leaves things all over the office.

Pick up on

1. Correct someone when they say something wrong
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: My teacher PICKS UP ON any mistake I make and corrects me.
2. Notice something that most people don't
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: He's very quick to PICK UP ON new trends.
3. React to something
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: The government has PICKED UP ON the reports in the media.
4. Comment on something said earlier in a conversation
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: I'd like to PICK UP ON the point that Jill made.

Pick yourself up

1. Recover from a fall or problem
   (Inseparable | International English)
   
   » Example: It took him a long time to PICK HIMSELF UP after his wife left him.

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