pick holes in (something)
pick holes in (something)
To make an effort to find flaws or negative aspects in something through excessive analysis or criticism. Every time I show my brother one of my stories, he just picks holes in it without saying anything that he liked about it. Critics picked holes in his performance, but fans of the franchise seemed to love it.
See also: hole, pick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
pick holes in something
1. . and pick something to pieces to criticize something severely; to point out the flaws or fallacies in an argument. The lawyer picked holes in the witness's story. They will pick holes in your argument. Stop picking holes in everything I say!
2. to poke or pinch little holes in something. Look! You've picked holes in the bread! How can I make sandwiches? Who picked holes in the blanket?
See also: hole, pick
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
pick holes in
see under pick apart.
See also: hole, pick
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
pick holes in something
If you pick holes in something such as an argument or a piece of work, you find mistakes in it to show that it is wrong or of poor quality. They've been picking holes in the evidence ever since the report was published. It's easy to pick holes in a piece of work so long after its publication. Note: Verbs such as poke and shoot can be used instead of pick. The defense lawyers attempted to poke holes in her evidence.
See also: hole, pick, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
pick holes
criticize.See also: hole, pick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
pick ˈholes (in something)
(informal) criticize something or find fault with something, for example a plan, a reason, an argument, etc: It’s easy for you to pick holes in my explanation, but have you got a better one?See also: hole, pick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
pick holes in
To seek and discover flaws or a flaw in: picked holes in the argument.
See also: hole, pick
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- pick holes
- pick holes in
- pick holes in something
- pick someone or something to pieces
- pick to pieces
- pick (someone or something) to pieces
- pick apart
- pick (something) to bits
- pick, pull, etc. somebody/something to bits/pieces
- pull (something) to pieces