pick off
1 of 1verb/pɪk ɔf/
Forms:picks off,picking off,picked off,picked off
1
to quickly and sharply remove something
- He picked the sticker off his new book.
- Make sure you pick off any damaged fruit from the tree.
- I picked off the unwanted leaves from the plant.
- The child was seen picking off petals from the flower.
- She picked off the price tag from her new dress.
2
to target and shoot individuals one after another
- They picked the guards off before entering the building.
- In the video game, players often try to pick off opponents one by one.
- The hunter was able to pick off several ducks flying overhead.
- From his hiding spot, he could easily pick off any trespassers one after another.
- The sniper was positioned to pick off enemy soldiers from a distance.
3
to deal with challenges, tasks, or opponents one by one
- Before the exam, he decided to pick off topics he found difficult.
- The company picked off its competition through a series of smart acquisitions.
- By prioritizing his assignments, he was able to pick them off one after another.
- The team strategically picked off their opponents one by one during the tournament.
- As the deadline approached, she began to pick off tasks from her to-do list.