Meaning of the word "pick off" in English

What does "pick off" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

pick off

US /pɪk ɔf/

UK /pɪk ɒf/

to shoot and kill a person or animal, especially one of a group, by aiming carefully

Example:

•

The sniper managed to pick off the enemy leader from a distance.

•

The hawk would often pick off smaller birds from the flock.

Synonym:

eliminate kill shoot take out snipe

to remove something from a surface or a group, often one by one

Example:

•

She carefully began to pick off the dead leaves from the plant.

•

The children would pick off the berries one by one and eat them.

Synonym:

remove detach pluck take off