picked at
Ate without appetite
Picked at describes small, repeated actions directed at something.
To pick at food is to eat without appetite, taking tiny bites: She just picked at her salad.
To pick at a scab or wound is to worry it with your fingers.
Figuratively, picking at someone means making small criticisms or provocations: He kept picking at her until she snapped.
- scrapeRub harshly against
- obsessDwell on compulsively
- pluckSpirit or yank
- scratchSuperficial wound or mark
- nitpickFind petty faults
fret · fidget · nervous habit · nibble · peel · scab · open wound · chip · criticize · found fault · poke · overthink · gnaw · brood · prod · tug · dabble · ruminate
picked atdevoured
Ate hungrily and completely
gobbled up · wolfed down · inhaled · polished off · demolished
picked atignored
Purposely not noticed
left alone · overlooked · let be · accepted · embraced
pick, picked, picking, picks, picker, pickers, pickax, pickaxe