pick at

Verb pick at has 3 senses

• pick at(v = verb.contact) pluck at, pull at - pluck or pull at with the fingers; "She picked nervously at the buttons of her blouse"
is one way to pull
Sample sentence:
Somebody ----s something

• pick at(v = verb.consumption) peck, peck at - eat like a bird; "The anorexic girl just picks at her food"
is one way to eat
Sample sentence:
They pick at more bread

• pick at(v = verb.communication) belittle, disparage - express a negative opinion of; "She disparaged her student's efforts"
is one way to criticise, criticize, knock, pick apart
Sample sentences:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody