bone to pick
crow to pick
have a bone to pick
pick a bone
A reason for dispute; something to complain of or argue about. Often used jokingly.
"I have a bone to pick with you," he said.
There was always a crow to pick about which one would shave first in the morning.
I accept your apology and will let bygones be bygones. However, I do have a bone to pick with you.
cotton picking
cotton-pickin'
Worthless, crude, common, messy.
Keep your cotton picking hands off my flowers!
You've got to clean up your room, son, this is a cotton-pickin' mess!
hand-pick
To choose very carefully.
This debating team should win because its members are all hand-picked.
The political bosses hand-picked a man for mayor who would agree with them.
in a pickle
In a quandary; in a difficult situation.
В затруднительном положении.
I was certainly in a pickle when my front tire blew out.
My car won't start and the trains are on strike today - I'm in a real pickle!
Моя машина не заводится, а вся железная дорога сегодня на забастовке – я влип!
pick a hole in
pick holes in
To find a mistake in or things wrong with; criticize; blame. To criticize or find fault with something, such as a speech, a statement, a theory, etc.
The witness said he had been walking in the moonlight last Sunday, but the lawyer picked a hole in what he said by proving that there was no moon and that it rained Sunday night.
Mary is always picking holes in what the other girls do.
It is easier to pick holes in someone else's argument than to make a good one yourself.
pick a lock
pick the lock
To burglarize; open illegally; open a lock without the regular key.
The robber got into the house by picking the lock.
pick a pocket
To steal by removing from the pocket of another.
While in the train, somebody picked his pocket and took the last dollar he had.
pick a quarrel
pick a fight
To seek the opportunity for a fight or a quarrel.
When Charlie has too much to drink, he has a tendency to pick a quarrel with whomever happens to be around.