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pick over

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To look through a group of things one by one, usually to find the best ones or to choose what you want.

Literal meaning: To pick through items one by one, looking them over.

Meanings

1 B2 neutral

To examine a collection of items carefully, selecting the best or most suitable.

"Shoppers were already picking over the discounted items when the store opened."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To examine or analyse something such as an argument, report, or event in close detail.

"Commentators have been picking over the results of the election for days."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Often used for physical objects such as produce at a market, clothes at a sale, or ruins after a disaster. Also used figuratively for examining written material, an argument, or a situation in detail. Can carry a sense of taking the best and leaving the rest. Common in both British and American English.

Commonly used with

vegetables bargains ruins evidence sales rack argument

Forms

Base
pick over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
picks over
he/she/it
Past simple
picked over
yesterday
Past participle
picked over
have + pp
-ing form
picking over
continuous

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Synonyms

sort through sift through examine go through scrutinise comb through

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