pick nits

Related to pick nits: nitpicking

pick nits

To look for and point out small, trivial, or insignificant problems, issues, or faults to criticize; to nitpick. I know I'm picking nits, but the color of your character's bandana changes slightly about three times over the course of the movie—it was really distracting! Look, your essay was really strong and very well put together on the whole. I'm just picking nits so that you can polish your next essay to an even higher standard.
See also: nit, pick
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pick nits

If someone picks nits, they point out small, unimportant problems or faults in something. If I had to pick nits, I'd say the service could be a little quicker. That aside, it was pretty much perfect. Note: The verb nitpick has a similar meaning, and there is also a much more frequent noun nitpicking. The critics, of course, nitpick — that's what they do. The book was the subject of seemingly endless academic nitpicking. Note: Nits are the sticky eggs laid by the head louse, a small insect that lives and breeds in human hair.
See also: nit, pick
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

pick nits

look for and criticize small or insignificant faults or errors.
The image here is of the painstaking removal of tiny parasitic nits (lice or lice eggs) from someone's hair. The phrase originated in the mid 20th century, chiefly in North American usage.
See also: nit, pick
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pick nits

To find fault in a petty way; nitpick.
See also: nit, pick
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • a bean counter
  • bean counter
  • bean-counter
  • quibble with (someone)
  • balls around
  • be running around in circles
  • (all) wrought up
  • be no mean (something)
  • be no mean...
References in periodicals archive
Crabs look like spiders, crayfish like cockroaches and lobsters like scorpions (yes, I know that spiders and scorpions aren't insects, but let's not pick nits).
A different kettle of fish? Think again
Like politicians calling for federalism, critics who aggressively pick nits are usually more opportunistic than principled, although that doesn't lessen the valuable service they provide in holding modern-day journalists to a higher standard of factual practice than the novelistic columnists of yore.
The uses of hyperbole: exaggerated doomsday forecasts are false, regrettable, inevitable, and possibly necessary
He said he also found there's no reason to pick nits, that is, remove the tiny louse eggs that stick to hair.
Ethics questions arise after doctor reveals `secret' head lice treatment
And it doesn't appear that the 10 or the two are any closer to getting round the table to pick nits over voting rights or the other couple of hundred piffling issues that have nothing to do with the good of the game and everything to do with power.
Football: JUST MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESSES; Money men can't handle football
School nurses routinely inspect and pick nits from children's hair by thoroughly combing, sectioning the hair and removing the nits.
This is one lousy topic. (Gleams & Notions)
In approaching the post, he said, "I don't want to -- or need to -- pick nits. I am not an English teacher.
A '60S IDEA LINGERS ON AT ONLY A FEW U.S. PAPERS Ombudsman concept survives in newsrooms, but its future isn't full of promise
But hey, who wants to pick nits on opening night for the Ducks?
Ducks do their number