pick over
Examine piece by piece
To pick over something is to examine it carefully, selecting the good parts and rejecting the bad: She picked over the berries, discarding the moldy ones.
The phrase often implies sorting through remnants or leftovers: By the time I got to the sale, the merchandise had been picked over.
Extended uses suggest critical scrutiny of details or choices already diminished by others' selections.
Review to organize
- sift throughExamine methodically for findings
- comb throughSearch systematically and thoroughly
- rifle throughSearch hastily and carelessly
- forageSeek food actively
dig through · scavenge · browse · nose around · scrounge · ransack · rummage
Study closely for flaws
- examineStudy with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- studyDeliberate learning effort
- analyzeStudy by breaking down
review · assess · evaluate · check · look through · sift through · comb through · peruse
Overly particular about preferences
- selectiveChoosing with care
- particularSpecific or fussy
- fussyExcessively particular
- finickyExcessively particular, hard to satisfy
discriminating · discerning · persnickety · fastidious · exacting · demanding · critical · judicious
sort through
Review to organize
- sift throughExamine methodically for findings
- comb throughSearch systematically and thoroughly
- rifle throughSearch hastily and carelessly
dig through · forage · scavenge · browse · nose around · scrounge · ransack · rummage
inspect
Study closely for flaws
- examineStudy with attention
- scrutinizeInspect with close attention
- studyDeliberate learning effort
analyze · review · assess · evaluate · check · look through · sift through · comb through · peruse · probe
choosy
Overly particular about preferences
- selectiveChoosing with care
- particularSpecific or fussy
- fussyExcessively particular
finicky · discriminating · discerning · persnickety · fastidious · exacting · demanding · critical · judicious · careful
discard
Deliberately throw out
cast aside · refuse · spurn · leave behind · set aside · weed out · throw out · dispose · sort out · separate out