pick off
Remove or shoot individually
Wörtlich: To pull something off from a surface or group individually.
In 15 Sekunden
- Targeting and removing items or people one by one.
- Common in sports, gaming, and business strategy.
- Implies precision, control, and a systematic approach.
Bedeutung
To select and remove or target things or people one by one from a larger group, often with precision or strategy.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Playing a video game
I'll stay on the roof and pick off the guards while you sneak inside.
I will stay on the roof and take out the guards one by one.
Managing a busy workday
I'm going to pick off these small emails before the meeting starts.
I will finish these small emails one by one.
A sports commentator speaking
The quarterback was struggling, and the defense started to pick off his passes.
The defense started intercepting his passes one after another.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In Baseball, a 'pickoff' is a highly technical move where a pitcher throws to a base to catch a runner. It is a symbol of alertness and psychological warfare between the pitcher and the runner. The term is frequently used in business journalism (like the Wall Street Journal) to describe 'talent wars.' It reflects the aggressive, competitive nature of the US tech and finance sectors. In 'Battle Royale' games like Fortnite or Call of Duty, 'picking off' players from a distance is a specific playstyle. It is often associated with 'camping' (staying in one spot), which can be controversial among players. The literal use is very common in the UK, where gardening is a national pastime. 'Deadheading' roses is often described as 'picking off' the dead blooms.
The 'One-by-One' Rule
Always remember that 'pick off' implies a sequence. If you do it all at once, use 'wipe out' instead.
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'pick off them.' It must be 'pick them off.' This is a common mistake for B2 learners.
In 15 Sekunden
- Targeting and removing items or people one by one.
- Common in sports, gaming, and business strategy.
- Implies precision, control, and a systematic approach.
What It Means
Pick off is all about precision. Imagine you have a bowl of grapes. You don't eat them all at once. You pick off the best ones one by one. In a broader sense, it means removing or defeating members of a group individually. It feels targeted and deliberate. It is not a random act. You are choosing your targets carefully.
How To Use It
This is a phrasal verb. You can put the object in the middle or at the end. You can say pick off the runners or pick them off. Use it when you are dealing with a list or a crowd. It works great for sports, business, or even chores. If you are finishing a long to-do list, you are picking off the easy tasks first. It implies a steady, rhythmic progress.
When To Use It
Use it when you want to sound strategic. It is perfect for a gaming session with friends. You might pick off enemies from a distance. In a business meeting, you might pick off the smallest problems before tackling the big ones. It sounds confident and controlled. Use it when you are in charge of the situation. It’s also common in sports commentary when a defender intercepts a pass.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very sensitive or tragic situations. If you are talking about people losing jobs, pick off sounds a bit cold or predatory. Don’t use it for things you do all at once. If you dump a whole bucket of water, you aren't picking off anything. It requires a sequence. Also, avoid it in high-level legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a court of law.
Cultural Background
This phrase has strong roots in American sports and military history. In baseball, a pitcher picks off a runner who is too far from the base. In military history, it described sharpshooters taking out specific targets. Today, it has moved into the office. It represents the 'hunter' mindset of productivity. It’s very much about individual achievement and accuracy.
Common Variations
There aren't many variations of the phrase itself, but the context changes its flavor. You might hear picked apart, which is more about criticism. Pick off is strictly about removal or targeting. Sometimes people use cherry-pick, but that means only choosing the best things. Pick off simply means taking them out one by one, regardless of quality.
Nutzungshinweise
The phrase is highly versatile but leans toward a 'tactical' or 'competitive' vibe. It is perfectly acceptable in office environments when discussing strategy or task management.
The 'One-by-One' Rule
Always remember that 'pick off' implies a sequence. If you do it all at once, use 'wipe out' instead.
Pronoun Placement
Never say 'pick off them.' It must be 'pick them off.' This is a common mistake for B2 learners.
Use in Business
Using 'pick off' in a business context makes you sound like a strategic thinker who understands competition.
Sports Lingo
If you're in the US, knowing the baseball 'pickoff' will help you follow sports conversations much better.
Beispiele
6I'll stay on the roof and pick off the guards while you sneak inside.
I will stay on the roof and take out the guards one by one.
Shows a strategic, one-by-one approach in a game.
I'm going to pick off these small emails before the meeting starts.
I will finish these small emails one by one.
Used here to mean completing tasks from a list.
The quarterback was struggling, and the defense started to pick off his passes.
The defense started intercepting his passes one after another.
Standard sports terminology for interceptions.
Don't try to solve the whole page at once; just pick off the easy questions first.
Just answer the easy questions one by one.
Encouraging a systematic approach to a problem.
Look at him pick off the shrimp from the appetizer tray like a pro.
Look at him taking the shrimp one by one.
Using a 'tactical' phrase for something silly like eating snacks.
The larger company is slowly picking off our best clients.
The larger company is taking our clients one by one.
Describes a predatory or aggressive business move.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'pick off'.
The sniper was able to ______ the enemy guards from the clock tower.
In a military/sniping context, 'pick off' is the correct term for targeting individuals.
Which sentence uses the pronoun correctly?
The pitcher saw the runner and...
Pronouns must go between 'pick' and 'off' in this phrasal verb.
Match the situation to the meaning of 'pick off'.
A tech company hires three senior developers from a rival firm.
Hiring away talent from a competitor is a form of strategic 'picking off'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Why did the quarterback look so upset? B: He threw three passes that were ______ by the other team.
In American football, an interception is commonly called being 'picked off'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenThe sniper was able to ______ the enemy guards from the clock tower.
In a military/sniping context, 'pick off' is the correct term for targeting individuals.
The pitcher saw the runner and...
Pronouns must go between 'pick' and 'off' in this phrasal verb.
A tech company hires three senior developers from a rival firm.
Hiring away talent from a competitor is a form of strategic 'picking off'.
A: Why did the quarterback look so upset? B: He threw three passes that were ______ by the other team.
In American football, an interception is commonly called being 'picked off'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenUsually, yes, for the person being 'picked off.' However, in gardening or task management, it can be positive or neutral.
Not really. It sounds too predatory. Use 'hit on' or 'woo' instead.
'Cull' is more formal and usually refers to reducing a population (like deer). 'Pick off' is more about individual targeting.
Use 'pick off' as a verb and 'pickoff' (one word) as a noun in sports.
Yes, this is a very common literal use, though doctors advise against it!
In gaming, yes. In general English, 'sniping' is the action, and 'picking off' is the result.
Yes, if you are removing specific fruits from a tree one by one.
It's a bit informal. Use 'systematically eliminate' for a more academic tone.
In this context, 'off' signifies removal from a state of being or from a group.
Yes, an antivirus can pick off threats as they appear.
Yes, though the sports usage is more common in American English.
Perhaps 'adding on' or 'recruiting' in a non-competitive way.
Verwandte Redewendungen
pick out
similarTo choose something from a group.
knock off
similarTo kill or to finish a task.
weed out
similarTo remove inferior elements from a group.
cherry-pick
specialized formTo choose only the best examples.
take out
similarTo eliminate a target.
