pecked at
Ate without appetite
Pecked at describes eating in small, unenthusiastic bites—the way a bird pecks at seeds: She just pecked at her dinner.
It suggests lack of appetite or interest in the food.
The phrase can also mean to criticize or nag repeatedly: His mother pecked at him about his grades.
- tapValve controlling liquid flow
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- scratch the surfaceExamine only superficially
- dabbleEngage superficially
- hintIndirect suggestion
forage · allude · beak · nibble · skim · strike · suggest · toy · feed · tickle · nag · sample · prod · imply · jab · glance · patter · poke
eating manner/appetite
pecked atdevoured
Ate hungrily and completely
wolfed down · gobbled up · inhaled · polished off · demolished
peck, pecks, pecking, pecked, pecker, peckers, woodpecker, woodpeckers