Picarse haciendo algo
Lo malo de llorar cuando uno pica cebolla no es el simple hecho de llorar, sino que a veces uno empieza, como quien dice, se pica, y ya no puede parar.
In the sentence above, picar is used twice. The first is simply, when one cuts onions... The second invokes an idiom involving picarse:
Cuando uno se pica haciendo algo
which is to keep doing something even though there is no good reason for it except perhaps stubborness, or you keep trying even though you aren't good enough...
If someone could explain more about this idiom, with some examples, I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
J
5 Answers
"Cuando uno se pica haciendo algo"-> "Cuando uno se engancha haciendo algo", enganchar have the same sense of " the novel grips you" ( la novela te engancha)
Estar picado = to be enraged
It is really usual in Spain! Some examples; (sorry about my English)
Empezó a reírse de mí y al principio no le hice caso, pero al final me picó y acabamos discutiendo.
He started mocking me and at first I ignored him, but finally he achieved that I got angry and we had an argument.
Los futbolistas con mal carácter a menudo acaban picándose con otros jugadores en el terreno de juego.
Moody footballplayers often end up having a scuffle with another player on the pitch.
Me piqué tanto con mi primo al ajedrez, que no paré de jugar hasta que logré ganarle, al cabo de siete años.
I wished to win chess to my cousin so much, that I did not stop playing until I won to him, after seven years.
There is even a popular proverb which says:
"El que se pica, ajos come". Who enrages, eats garlic.
Maybe there is an equivalent in English!
Cuando haces algo que te gusta como comer, jugar bailar, etc. una vez empiezas a hacerlo no quisieras parar. Ej. Me piqué bailando., Me piqué comiendo., etc. 
Banging your head angainst a brick wall?
I am reading Como agua para chocolate as well!
