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pick on

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌpɪk ˈɑn/ · UK /ˌpɪk ˈɒn/

pick on means: To repeatedly treat someone unkindly, especially by criticizing them or making fun of them.

verb

BULLYB1

To repeatedly treat someone unkindly, especially by criticizing them or making fun of them.

  • Stop picking on your sister.
  • Some children picked on him because of his glasses.
  • Why does the boss always pick on me?

How to use it: pick on someone (The older boys kept picking on him.)

Similar words: bully, harass, tease

Common phrases: pick on someone, pick on younger children

CHOOSE FOR TASKB2

To choose someone to do something, often when they would rather not do it.

  • The teacher picked on me to answer.
  • She picked on Leo to carry the boxes.
  • Why do you always pick on me for these jobs?

How to use it: pick on someone to do something (The teacher picked on me to read aloud.); pick on someone for something (They picked on Sam for the difficult job.)

Similar words: choose, select, single out

Common phrases: pick on someone, pick on a student

Questions about pick on

What does pick on mean?

To repeatedly treat someone unkindly, especially by criticizing them or making fun of them.

What is pick on in other languages?

Türkçe: sataşmak · Español: meterse con · Français: s’en prendre à · Deutsch: hänseln · Italiano: prendere di mira · 日本語: いじめる

How do you pronounce pick on?

In American English /ˌpɪk ˈɑn/; in British English /ˌpɪk ˈɒn/.

How do you use pick on in a sentence?

Stop picking on your sister. Some children picked on him because of his glasses.

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pick on in other languages

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