pick around

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pick around" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to searching or selecting items carefully or selectively, often in a casual context. Example: "I decided to pick around the store to find the best deals on groceries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

They were the cheese and the cheese was them, plus they were too small to really pick around.

The Guardian - Travel

The N.B.A. personnel said they expected the Utah Jazz, which should pick around No. 12, to feel pressure to draft Fredette.

The New York Times - Sports

That is the theory of his catcher, Jorge Posada, who had grown tired of watching Contreras pick around the strike zone instead of challenging hitters with his overwhelming stuff.

The New York Times - Sports

[Depp denied all the allegations and the case was settled out of court.] When a women makes an allegation of domestic abuse, people tend to pick around for ulterior motives.

The Guardian

"Democrats obviously can pick around the edges with the failure of environmental policy and health care policy and the more standard issues they have," said Leon E. Panetta, the former Democratic congressman from California who was White House chief of staff in the Clinton administration.

The New York Times

Never pick around people.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

Some cows picked around the piles of refuse, while children ran up to the trucks.

The New York Times

No grasses for picking around in, too much competition from remote-control sloops and tugboats.

The New York Times

They'd been picked around the time of my last visit in August and sealed in storage ever since.

The New York Times

Mr. Osby picked around the famous melody subversively, running parallel to Ms. Pitts, taking wide harmonic routes around the horn without going dissonant.

The New York Times - Arts

Built on tolling chords, the music transforms into a slow minor ballad, Mr. Sheppard gracefully picking around the chords and abstracting his lines into soft, wailing long tones.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the process of analyzing complex information, use "pick around" to highlight an iterative and selective approach to identifying key points.

Common error

Avoid using "pick around" when you mean a thorough and exhaustive search. This phrase implies a degree of selectivity or avoidance, not a comprehensive examination.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "pick around" functions primarily as a verb indicating selective engagement or avoidance. This can apply to physical objects (like food) or abstract concepts (like arguments). As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

31%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pick around" is a phrasal verb denoting selective engagement or avoidance, often used informally. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, it's best suited for casual contexts, as highlighted by its frequent presence in News & Media and Wiki sources. For more formal settings, consider using alternatives like "examine selectively". The phrase is relatively uncommon, but understanding its nuances ensures effective and appropriate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cherry-pick

Suggests selecting only the best or most desirable items, a more specific type of selection.

search selectively

Highlights the act of searching with a specific criterion or preference.

browse through

Focuses on a more general scanning activity without necessarily involving selection or avoidance.

sort through

Implies a systematic arrangement of items which is a more organized form of "pick around".

avoid meticulously

Emphasizes careful avoidance of something, which is part of the meaning in some contexts of "pick around".

skirt around

Signifies avoiding a topic or issue, similar to avoiding parts of food.

nibble at

Applies specifically to food contexts, indicating eating small portions while avoiding certain parts.

circumvent selectively

Stresses strategic avoidance to sidestep, more deliberate than simply "picking around".

fiddle with

Implies casual or unfocused manipulation, similar to the casual engagement aspect of "pick around".

casually play

Suggests casual interaction, often with a musical instrument, akin to casually selecting notes.

FAQs

How can I use "pick around" in a sentence?

You can use "pick around" to describe selectively choosing items, such as "I like to pick around the farmers market for the freshest produce" or to describe avoiding certain elements, such as, "He tends to pick around the difficult questions during interviews".

What does "pick around" mean when referring to food?

When talking about food, "pick around" means to eat parts of a meal while avoiding other parts, often due to dislike or dietary restrictions. For instance, "The child picked around the vegetables on their plate".

Is it correct to use "pick around" in a formal setting?

While grammatically correct, "pick around" is generally more suitable for informal or casual contexts. In formal settings, consider using more precise terms like "select carefully" or "analyze selectively" for better clarity and professionalism.

What's a more formal alternative to "pick around"?

For a formal alternative, consider using phrases such as "examine selectively" or "choose judiciously", which convey a more deliberate and thoughtful approach.