pick on

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to repeatedly treat someone unfairly, criticize them, or tease them. It is often used when a stronger or older person is bothering someone smaller, younger, or weaker.

Examples

• Why do you always pick on your little brother?

  Why do you always pick on your little brother?

• The older kids used to pick on him at school.

  The older kids used to pick on him at school.

• I felt like the boss was picking on me today during the meeting.

  I felt like the boss was picking on me today during the meeting.

• Don't pick on her just because she made a small mistake.

  Don't pick on her just because she made a small mistake.

• He's very sensitive, so please don't pick on him.

  He's very sensitive, so please don't pick on him.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They picked on him to be the leader.

  ✓ They picked him to be the leader.

  'Pick on' means to bully or criticize. To choose someone for a role, use just 'pick' or 'select'.

• ✗ He is always picking at me.

  ✓ He is always picking on me.

  'Pick at' means to eat slowly or pull at something with fingers. Use 'pick on' for teasing or criticizing.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The big kids at school shouldn't ___ the younger students.

  💡 Bully or tease.

  Show answer

  pick on

• Are you going to ___ me all day for forgetting my keys?

  💡 Tease or criticize repeatedly.

  Show answer

  pick on