pick someone's brain, to
pick someone's brain(s)
Fig. to talk with someone to find out information about something. I spent the afternoon with Donna, picking her brain for ideas to use in our celebration. Do you mind if I pick your brains? I need some fresh ideas.
See also: brain, pick
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
pick someone's brain
Obtain ideas or information from another person, as in I'm out of ideas for decorating-let me pick your brain. This term alludes to picking clean a carcass. [Mid-1800s]
See also: brain, pick
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
pick someone's brain, to
To gather information or ideas from someone who is presumably more expert or more imaginative. This analogy to picking clean a bone or carcass dates from the mid-nineteenth century. “Do you possess the art of picking other people’s brains,” wrote clergyman Benjamin Jowett (1817–93). For picking one’s own brain, see cudgel one’s brains.
See also: pick
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- palm off, to
- keep an eye on, to
- go to one's head, to
- find it in one's heart, (not) to
- bottom of it, at the/get to the
- dawn on (someone), to
- (not) give a fig
- (not) care a fig
- fig
- catch (someone) with his pants down, to