pick at (something)

to eat food in small pieces and without enjoyment.

He eats very little, picking at his food with his fork.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of pick at something (= to try to remove small pieces of something with your fingers)

• put someone out of your mind
• put someone out to pasture
• put someone over knee
• put someone over the top
• put someone over your knee
• put someone's back up
• put someone's mind at ease
• put someone's mind at rest
• put someone's nose out of joint
• put someone through
• put someone through hell
• put someone through hoops
• put someone through paces
• put someone through something
• put someone through their paces
• put someone through the mill
• put someone through the wringer
• put someone to death
• put someone to shame
• put someone to sleep
• put someone to the test
• put something back on the rails
• put something back on track
• put something behind
• put something behind someone