peck at

To eat something at a slow, unenthusiastic pace in very small bites. I wonder if Mary isn't feeling well—she only pecked at her dinner. He sat moodily at the table, pecking at the plate of vegetables his parent put in front of him.

peck at something

1. Lit. [for a bird] to poke someone or something with its beak. The bird pecked at the ground, snatching up the ants. I tried to hold on to the bird but it pecked at me hard.

2. Fig. [for someone] to eat just a little bit of something, being as picky as a bird. Are you well, Betty? You are just pecking at your food. Please don't peck at your food. You should eat everything.

peck at

To eat something unenthusiastically by taking small bites: The sullen child only pecked at his carrots.

See also: peck

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

See also:

nibble at
nibble away at
nibble on
(it's) small wonder
small wonder
be over
be over (someone or something)
small
not a (whole) lot
not much

References in periodicals archive

Birds that did not perform in a certain test (i.e., did not peck at the water, food or the red disc) were not included in the analysis of that test.

There were more head shakes per peck at 22 and 62 weeks in both the re-trimmed birds (at 22 weeks, p<0.05) and the birds trimmed at hatch (at 62 weeks, p<0.05) compared to the control treatment (Table 2).

Sensitivity to pressure-force used to peck at food : The number of birds pecking at food in this test ranged from 30% in 12-week old non-trimmed birds to 70% in 22-week old non-trimmed birds (Table 3).

Sensitivity to pressure-force used to peck at a red disk : The number of birds pecking at the red disc ranged from 40 to 55% (Table 3).

Control birds showed less head shakes per peck at 22 and 62 weeks than birds trimmed at hatch and retrimmed birds.

At this age control birds tended to peck at the disc more often and used significantly more force when they did.

Changes in behaviour of laying hens following beak trimming at hatch and re-trimming at 14 weeks

词组	peck at
释义	peck at peck at To eat something at a slow, unenthusiastic pace in very small bites. I wonder if Mary isn't feeling well—she only pecked at her dinner. He sat moodily at the table, pecking at the plate of vegetables his parent put in front of him. See also: peck Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. peck at something 1. Lit. [for a bird] to poke someone or something with its beak. The bird pecked at the ground, snatching up the ants. I tried to hold on to the bird but it pecked at me hard. 2. Fig. [for someone] to eat just a little bit of something, being as picky as a bird. Are you well, Betty? You are just pecking at your food. Please don't peck at your food. You should eat everything. See also: peck McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. peck at v. To eat something unenthusiastically by taking small bites: The sullen child only pecked at his carrots. See also: peck The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. See also: nibble at nibble away at nibble on (it's) small wonder small wonder be over be over (someone or something) small not a (whole) lot not much References in periodicals archive Birds that did not perform in a certain test (i.e., did not peck at the water, food or the red disc) were not included in the analysis of that test. There were more head shakes per peck at 22 and 62 weeks in both the re-trimmed birds (at 22 weeks, p<0.05) and the birds trimmed at hatch (at 62 weeks, p<0.05) compared to the control treatment (Table 2). Sensitivity to pressure-force used to peck at food : The number of birds pecking at food in this test ranged from 30% in 12-week old non-trimmed birds to 70% in 22-week old non-trimmed birds (Table 3). Sensitivity to pressure-force used to peck at a red disk : The number of birds pecking at the red disc ranged from 40 to 55% (Table 3). Control birds showed less head shakes per peck at 22 and 62 weeks than birds trimmed at hatch and retrimmed birds. At this age control birds tended to peck at the disc more often and used significantly more force when they did. Changes in behaviour of laying hens following beak trimming at hatch and re-trimming at 14 weeks
随便看	know enough to come in out of the rain know every trick in the book make a guess make a habit of make a habit of (doing something) make a habit/practice of something make a hash of make a hash of (something) make a hash of something make a hit make a hit with make a hit with (someone) make a hit with (someone or something) make a hole in make a hole in (something) make a hole in the water make a Horlicks of make a Horlicks of (something) make a joke of (something) make a joke of something make a killing make a lap Make a lap! make a laughingstock of make a laughingstock of (someone, something, or oneself)