pick
pick — verb
1. to choose a person or thing from several possible ones.
to choose a person or thing from several possible ones.
The coach picked Hana for the final relay team.
pick + person + for + team
From twenty posters, Leo picked the one with the red bus.
pick + noun + from + group
The school picked Marcus to lead the welcome tour.
A nurse picked my name from the list for today's test.
Yuki was picked for the city band after two auditions.
文法句型
pick + person/thing + from + group
pick + person + to-infinitive
be picked for + team/job
用法筆記
Often used when one option is chosen from a visible list, group, or set. It can also take a to-infinitive after the object when someone is chosen for a task or role.
常見錯誤
2. to take only the people or things you prefer and leave the rest.
to take only the people or things you prefer and leave the rest.
Rich stores pick and choose which brands they put on shelves.
fixed phrase: pick and choose
At the free table, visitors picked the best books first.
Online buyers can pick only the colors they really want.
The hotel lets guests pick the fruit they want for breakfast.
- be selective
states directly that someone accepts only certain options
- sort through
suggests examining a group before taking some of it
- cherry-pick
stronger and often critical, implying that only the best items are taken
- take whatever is available
shows no freedom to be selective
- accept all
means not leaving any options behind
文法句型
pick and choose
pick only what you want
pick + plural noun
用法筆記
This sense usually suggests freedom or privilege to refuse what you do not want. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is a simple act of choosing, while sense 2 stresses selective acceptance.
常見錯誤
3. to work a small thing loose from a surface or place, usually with your fingers.
to work a small thing loose from a surface or place, usually with your fingers.
Eva picked mud off her white shoes before entering class.
pick + noun + off + surface
The doctor picked a tiny stone out of Noah's heel.
pick + noun + out of + body part
During the film, the boy kept picking at the loose thread.
Grandpa picked dried paint from the window frame with a knife.
- pull off
a broad everyday phrase for removing something from a surface
- remove
neutral and general, without the idea of small repeated movements
- scratch off
suggests using a nail or tool against a surface
文法句型
pick + noun + off + surface
pick + noun + out of + place
pick at + small area
用法筆記
The object is usually something small and unwanted, such as dirt, wax, paint, or a thread. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 removes bits from a surface or place, while sense 4 takes fruit or flowers from a living plant.
常見錯誤
4. to take fruit, flowers, or crops off a living plant so you can keep them.
to take fruit, flowers, or crops off a living plant so you can keep them.
We picked peaches behind Uncle Ray's house all afternoon.
pick + fruit
Early workers picked roses before the shop opened at eight.
pick + flowers
After lunch, the children picked beans from the school garden.
A machine picked oranges while two farmers checked each box.
- plant
to put seeds or young plants into the ground
- leave to ripen
means not taking the fruit yet
文法句型
pick + fruit/flowers
pick + crop + from + plant
be picked by hand/machine
用法筆記
Most often used for crops, fruit, and flowers. Unlike sense 3, the thing removed is a complete item growing on a plant, not a small bit of dirt or material.
常見錯誤
5. to strip cooked meat off bones before eating it or using it in another dish.
to strip cooked meat off bones before eating it or using it in another dish.
After dinner, Aunt Mei picked the chicken for tomorrow's soup.
pick + cooked bird for later use
Sam picked the duck clean before saving the bones for stock.
pick + bird + clean
In the kitchen, Nora picked leftover fish from the small bones.
Dad picked the turkey while Grandma wrapped pieces for sandwiches.
- leave on the bone
means not removing the remaining meat
文法句型
pick + bird/fish + clean
pick meat from bones
picked carcass
用法筆記
Usually used after cooking or after other animals have already eaten part of the body. The object is a bird, fish, or carcass rather than a fruit, flower, or small dirty mark.
常見錯誤
6. to make a note by pulling and letting go of a string with your finger.
to make a note by pulling and letting go of a string with your finger.
Diego picked one guitar string and listened to the note.
pick + string
On stage, Mina picked the bass strings with her thumb.
pick + strings + with + body part
The teacher asked us to pick each string very softly.
In the dark room, Leo picked a note before tuning again.
- pluck
the closest synonym in music and often the more formal one
- fingerpick
specifically means playing with the fingers instead of a plectrum
- strum
different in technique because it usually brushes across several strings
文法句型
pick + string
pick + note
pick + guitar/bass + with + fingers
用法筆記
Used mainly with guitars, basses, and other stringed instruments. Distinguish from 'strum': strumming brushes across several strings, while picking often sounds one string or note at a time.
常見錯誤
pick — noun
1. the chance or right to decide which person or thing you want from a group.
the chance or right to decide which person or thing you want from a group.
The raffle winner got first pick of the cakes on the counter.
first pick of [group] = first chance to choose
Because Ava arrived early, she had first pick of the window seats.
After Maya chose blue, Ethan had the next pick from the cards.
The captain won the toss and earned first pick of the players.
文法句型
first pick of [group]
have first pick of [group]
用法筆記
Often appears in patterns such as 'first pick' or 'next pick'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the choosing opportunity, not the person or thing finally chosen.
常見錯誤
2. a person or thing that has been chosen, especially for a team, job, or particula
a person or thing that has been chosen, especially for a team, job, or particular use.
Goalkeeper Emma was Coach Ruiz's first pick for Saturday's match.
pick for [role/team]
This small camera was our pick for the family trip to Hualien.
our pick for [purpose]
Noah was an unexpected pick for class monitor, but he worked hard.
The red sofa became Mia's pick because it fit the narrow room.
文法句型
pick for [role]
our pick for [purpose]
用法筆記
Very common with 'for' when the chosen person or thing fits a job, team, or purpose. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the chance to choose.
常見錯誤
3. a situation where many suitable things are available, so you can choose freely f
a situation where many suitable things are available, so you can choose freely from them.
With ten empty cabins, we had our pick of the best rooms.
have your pick of [plural noun]
Because rain kept shoppers home, Lina had her pick of fresh peaches.
Graduates with coding skills often have their pick of job offers.
After the storm ended, families had their pick of dry blankets.
- choice
general word; this sense especially suggests many options
- free choice
stresses lack of restriction more directly
文法句型
have your pick of [plural noun]
have their pick of [plural noun]
用法筆記
Usually follows 'have' and is followed by 'of' plus a plural noun. It suggests plenty of good options are available, not just that one choice exists.
常見錯誤
4. used to tell someone to choose whichever one they want from the things being off
used to tell someone to choose whichever one they want from the things being offered.
There are three umbrellas by the door, so take your pick.
fixed phrase: take your pick
The bakery sells six kinds of rolls, so please take your pick.
Grandpa spread out his stamps and told Noah to take his pick.
Both jackets fit you well, so take your pick.
- choose
neutral everyday verb; less idiomatic than this phrase
- help yourself
informal and often used when offering food or small items
文法句型
take your pick
take your pick of [group]
用法筆記
Most often used as an invitation or offer. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense focuses on choosing now, not on the large number of choices available.
常見錯誤
5. a heavy tool with a long handle and a metal head, used for breaking hard ground
a heavy tool with a long handle and a metal head, used for breaking hard ground or rock.
The workers used picks to break the frozen ground before sunrise.
use a pick to break hard ground
A rusty pick leaned against the shed beside two old shovels.
Miners swung their picks carefully in the narrow tunnel all morning.
The farmer grabbed a pick when the fence post struck solid stone.
文法句型
use a pick to break [ground/rock]
swing a pick
用法筆記
Many speakers say 'pickaxe' when they want the full tool name. This tool breaks hard earth or rock; a shovel is for lifting looser material.
常見錯誤
6. a small pointed tool used to lift out, clean, or scrape away small things, often
a small pointed tool used to lift out, clean, or scrape away small things, often named by the job it does.
The dentist used a metal pick to clean plaque from my back teeth.
dental tool sense
Nora used a small pick to lift an olive from the tall jar.
use a pick to lift out a small item
Dad kept a fine pick in the toolbox for cleaning mud from bolts.
The jeweller reached for a pick to move the tiny stone.
文法句型
use a pick to clean [surface/object]
use a pick to lift [small item]
用法筆記
Often modified by the job it does, as in 'dental pick' or 'olive pick'. Distinguish from noun/7: this sense is a pointed tool for lifting or cleaning small things, while noun/7 is the flat piece used to play guitar.
7. a small flat object, often made from plastic or metal, that you hold to strike g
a small flat object, often made from plastic or metal, that you hold to strike guitar or banjo strings while playing
Ben tucked a blue pick into his guitar case after practice.
guitar pick after practice
Mina played the first song with a soft pick from her bag.
play with a pick
A metal pick gave Leo's banjo a brighter sound on stage.
Dad lent me a thick pick when my fingers started to hurt.
- plectrum
a more technical or formal word for the same thing
- guitar pick
a common everyday term, but narrower because it names one instrument
文法句型
play with a pick
use a pick on the strings
用法筆記
Often used with verbs like play, strum, and use, and with string instruments such as guitar or banjo. Distinguish from noun/5 and noun/6, which refer to digging or pointed tools rather than something for making music.
常見錯誤
8. in American football, a catch by a defender of a pass meant for the other team
in American football, a catch by a defender of a pass meant for the other team
The defender made a pick near the end zone with thirty seconds left.
make a pick in American football
A late pick stopped Miami's final drive and ended the game.
Before the break, Owen threw two picks and the team fell behind.
On third down, a pick by Chen gave the Tigers the ball back.
- interception
the full standard term in sports writing
- takeaway
broader; can also include recovering a fumble, not only catching a pass
- completion
a successful pass caught by the receiver's own team
文法句型
make a pick
throw a pick
用法筆記
Common in American football reports, especially with make, get, or throw. When the quarterback is the subject, 'throw a pick' means his pass was caught by the defense.
常見錯誤
9. in basketball, a play where one player blocks a defender with their body so a te
in basketball, a play where one player blocks a defender with their body so a teammate can move or shoot
Mia set a pick at the top, and Jay drove to the basket.
set a pick in basketball
The guard used Owen's pick and found room for a short shot.
use a pick to create space
Coach Kim called for a high pick before the final play.
A quick pick freed Sara on the left side for an easy pass.
The referee blew the whistle when the pick came a step late.
- screen
the more standard basketball term
- block
broader; can refer to several kinds of body contact, not only this set play
- pick-and-roll
a larger play built around a pick, not the pick alone
文法句型
set a pick
use a pick
high pick
用法筆記
Most often appears with set, use, or call for. Distinguish from noun/8, which is a defensive catch in American football, not a blocking move in basketball.