15초 만에
- Searching through a mess to find specific items.
- A slow, careful, and manual sorting process.
- Often used for food, clothes, or detailed data.
뜻
When you pick through something, you look at a group of things one by one to find exactly what you want or to remove what you don't like.
주요 예문
3 / 6At a salad bar
I had to pick through the salad to find the olives.
I had to search through the salad to find the olives.
Shopping for clothes
She spent an hour picking through the vintage dresses.
She spent an hour searching through the vintage dresses.
Analyzing a report
The auditors will pick through every single receipt.
The auditors will examine every single receipt carefully.
문화적 배경
The British love 'charity shops.' It is very common to hear someone say they spent the morning 'picking through' the bric-a-brac (small ornaments) to find a bargain. In Silicon Valley and tech hubs, 'picking through code' or 'picking through logs' is a standard way to describe debugging. It implies a high level of technical skill. In many Indian cities, 'ragpickers' are people who pick through waste to find recyclable materials. While it is a difficult job, it is a vital part of the urban ecosystem. The concept of 'Mottainai' (not wasting) leads people to pick through items to see what can be reused or repaired rather than thrown away.
Think of your fingers
Remember that 'pick' implies using your fingers. Use this phrase when the search feels 'hands-on,' even if it's digital.
Don't separate!
Never say 'pick the box through.' It will sound very strange to native speakers.
15초 만에
- Searching through a mess to find specific items.
- A slow, careful, and manual sorting process.
- Often used for food, clothes, or detailed data.
What It Means
Imagine you have a bowl of mixed nuts. You only like the cashews. You use your fingers to move the almonds and peanuts aside to find the cashews. That action is pick through. It implies a slow, careful, and often manual search. You aren't just looking; you are sorting. It suggests there is a lot of 'clutter' or 'extra stuff' to deal with.
How To Use It
You usually follow the phrase with the object you are searching. For example, you pick through a pile of clothes or pick through your salad. It is a phrasal verb, so it stays together. You can use it for physical objects or even information. You might pick through data to find a specific error. It feels very hands-on and detailed.
When To Use It
Use this when the search is a bit tedious. It’s perfect for when you are at a thrift store looking for a vintage shirt. Use it when you are cleaning out a messy drawer. It also works when you are eating something with ingredients you dislike. If you hate onions, your friends might see you pick through your pasta. It’s a very visual, descriptive phrase.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for a quick glance. If you just look at a menu, you aren't picking through it. Don't use it for a high-speed search like a Google query. It also sounds a bit messy. Avoid using it in a very high-level business pitch unless you mean 'analyzing details.' It can sometimes imply that what you are searching is trash or junk, so be careful with the context.
Cultural Background
This phrase comes from the idea of sorting harvest or textiles by hand. In Western culture, it’s often associated with 'bargain hunting.' Think of a 'clearance bin' at a store. People love the idea of finding a 'diamond in the rough.' It suggests that if you are patient enough to pick through the mess, you will find something valuable. It’s the anthem of the thrifty shopper.
Common Variations
You might hear pick over which is very similar. However, pick over often means the good stuff is already gone. If a sale has been going on for hours, the items have been picked over. Pick through focuses more on the process of the search itself. You can also say sift through if the items are smaller, like papers or sand.
사용 참고사항
The phrase is neutral and safe for most situations. Just remember it implies a bit of a mess or a large quantity of items to sort.
Think of your fingers
Remember that 'pick' implies using your fingers. Use this phrase when the search feels 'hands-on,' even if it's digital.
Don't separate!
Never say 'pick the box through.' It will sound very strange to native speakers.
Use with 'carefully'
This phrase pairs perfectly with the adverb 'carefully.' It makes you sound very precise.
The 'Picky' Connection
A 'picky' person is someone who 'picks through' everything because they are hard to please. This is a great way to remember the meaning!
예시
6I had to pick through the salad to find the olives.
I had to search through the salad to find the olives.
Shows sorting through food to find a favorite part.
She spent an hour picking through the vintage dresses.
She spent an hour searching through the vintage dresses.
Commonly used for shopping in messy or crowded places.
The auditors will pick through every single receipt.
The auditors will examine every single receipt carefully.
Used here to mean a very detailed professional inspection.
I'm picking through these boxes to find my old passport.
I am searching through these boxes for my passport.
Informal use for a common household chore.
Stop picking through your food like a picky toddler!
Stop sorting your food like a picky child!
Used to tease someone for being selective with their meal.
They had to pick through the ruins to find their belongings.
They had to search through the ruins for their things.
A heavy, serious context for searching through debris.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'pick through'.
The forensic team had to ________ the wreckage to find the flight recorder.
We use the base form after 'had to'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Select the correct option:
'Pick through' is inseparable and requires the preposition 'through'.
What is the most natural response?
A: 'I can't find my keys in this messy bag!' B: '____________________'
This suggests a logical place to search carefully.
Match the action to the phrase.
You are looking for a specific email in a folder with 500 messages.
Searching through a large amount of information is 'picking through'.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
Pick Through vs. Pick Out
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제The forensic team had to ________ the wreckage to find the flight recorder.
We use the base form after 'had to'.
Select the correct option:
'Pick through' is inseparable and requires the preposition 'through'.
A: 'I can't find my keys in this messy bag!' B: '____________________'
This suggests a logical place to search carefully.
You are looking for a specific email in a folder with 500 messages.
Searching through a large amount of information is 'picking through'.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문No, that sounds like medical surgery! You can pick through a person's *belongings* or *ideas*, but not the person themselves.
Not necessarily. It can be neutral (searching files) or even positive (finding a bargain). However, 'picking through food' can sometimes seem rude.
'Rummage' is much messier and louder. 'Pick through' is more careful and quiet.
Yes! It's very common to 'pick through' folders, emails, or lines of code.
It depends on the tense. 'I pick through' (present), 'I picked through' (past).
It's better to say 'weave through the crowd' or 'push through the crowd.' 'Pick through' is for objects.
Usually, yes. It suggests the items are not in a clear order.
It's okay, but 'examine' or 'analyze' might be better depending on the subject.
Yes, it is used equally in American, British, and Australian English.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'ignore' or 'glance at' are the closest in terms of action.
관련 표현
Sift through
similarTo examine a large amount of something to find what is important.
Comb through
similarTo search very thoroughly.
Pick over
similarTo examine a group of things and take the best ones.
Sort through
similarTo look at things and put them in order.
Dig through
similarTo search for something in a messy way.
