pick on

Dictionary

pick on(

)

A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g. Take out the trash.).

transitive verb phrase

1. (to pester)

a. meterse con

He's such a jerk. He even picks on homeless people.Es un estúpido, hasta se mete con los sin techo.

b. agarrárselas con

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(River Plate)

Instead of attacking her logic, he picked on her makeup.En lugar de atacar su lógica, se las agarró con su maquillaje.

2. (to choose) (United Kingdom)

a. elegir

The boss picked on Clay to get sandwiches for the staff meeting.El jefe eligió a Clay para ir por sándwiches para la junta de personal.

b. escoger

She didn't put her hand up, yet the teacher still picked on her to answer.No levantó la mano y, sin embargo, el maestro la escogió para responder.

pick on

A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g. Take out the trash.).

transitive verb phrase

1. (bully)

a. meterse con

pick on

intransitive verb

1 (choose, single out) escoger; elegir

I can't think why he picked on that wallpaper no logro entender por qué escogió or eligió ese papel para la pared

why on earth did we pick on Venice? when you have made up your mind, pick on a day when you will not be under much stress I picked on simple things - rice and peas, meat and bread

they picked on me to go and tell him me escogieron or eligieron a mí para que se lo dijera; why pick on me? ¿por qué yo (y no otro)?

the thieves pick on old people obscene callers often pick on people who are vulnerable and scared I don't know why he picked on me to explain his ridiculous theories the teacher picked on him to collect the books

2 (harass) meterse con (informal)

stop picking on me deja de meterte conmigo (informal); pick on someone your own size! ¡métete con alguien de tu tamaño! (informal)

why are you always picking on me? he's always picking on me he was repeatedly bullied and picked on by the manager "do you want a belting?" - swiftly retreating to the doorway, the boy gave a sniff - "pick on someone your own size!" he muttered bullies pick on younger children it was only the girls who picked on me - boys never said anything nasty Anthony started picking at me

Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Examples