Phrasal verbs with 'PICK'

PICK APART – 1) to perform an attempt to find disadvantages in something or someone via very detailed negative analysis; 2) to take something to pieces, disassemble.

Knowing that it is as easy for our father to take apart (1) my speech as to take apart (2) an engine in his old car, I didn’t even dare to say anything.

PICK AT – 1) to eat small portions of a meal without any interest or appetite; 2) to search for negative aspects in something or someone, to nag; 3) to touch or pull something with your fingers.

Rob always found Ann’s habit of picking at (1) her food during breakfast very irritating. At first sight, it might seem that he picked at (2) her. He had a hungry childhood and watching Ann toying with sandwiches was like picking at (3) an old wound.

PICK OFF – 1) to aim at something or someone especially in a group and shoot them down from a distance; 2) to get something or someone faster than others, to intercept; 3) to rip off or scratch off something with fingers.

The main task for Captain Deadshot squad is to pick off (2) a weapon that has recently appeared on the black market. Now it is desired by lots of “big fish” as it allows to pick off (1) enemies from a large distance at very high speed. But what’s more important, it pays to pick off (3) all wanted posters with his face on it.

PICK ON – 1) to bully or tease someone in a very unkind manner; 2) to choose something or someone.

Fat Jack could easily pick on (2) any schoolboy to perform different disgusting tasks. Toilet cleaning with a toothbrush was his favorite way of picking on (1) children.

PICK OUT – 1) select something or something from several options; 2) to identify, distinguish something or someone in a set of things or a group of people; 3) to identify notes, play them by ear on an instrument.

Little Poppy turned her head towards a group of boys and picked out (2) a slim figure among them. It was Joe, the boy she picked out (1) for the talent show last year. He could pick out (3) tunes on a guitar and play any song.

PICK THROUGH – to search through a set of things in order to find something you want.

Right now Mr. L. Oser is picking through a pile of rubbish to get the engagement ring he has lost not so long ago.

PICK UP – 1) to lift something up; 2) to take away things that are to be collected; 3) to take someone by car; 4) to notice things that are hard to notice.

Terry could easily pick up (3) Derry on his way home but he decided to blow it off and go to his parents’ house to pick up (2) his belongings. When he reached the door, he picked up (4) a smell of burning. That was quite strange, so he looked around and noticed a burnt piece of paper among the leaves. Terry picked it up (1) and saw familiar handwriting on it.

PICK UP AFTER – clean the mess left by someone else.

For God’s sake, can you finally start picking up after yourself and stop being childish!

PICK UP ON – to notice or understand something;

I have never picked up on uncle Sam’s stupid jokes when I was young.

PICK ONESELF UP – 1) to stand up after the fall; 2) to recover after disease; 3) to pull oneself together, concentrate.

Last year Danny fell off his motorcycle. He picked himself up (1) and didn’t even bother to go to the hospital. This seemingly small incident led to serious consequences - a disease after which he could not pick himself up (2). Now his family tries to make Danny pick himself up (3) and continue rehabilitation.

Test your knowledge of phrasal verbs with 'pick' here:

Test 1

Test 2