Pick Holes in Something

Also:
Poke holes in something,
Pick something to pieces,
Pick apart

Meaning of Idiom ‘Pick Holes In Something’

To pick holes in something is to find the weak points in someone’s argument, plan, suggestion, idea, or theory; to criticize or find faults in something; to point out the flaws in something.


Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Usage Notes

This phrase usually has the connotation of excessive analysis and non-constructive criticism.

When you pick holes in someone’s idea, you are not usually doing it to be helpful or constructive, but simply combative and oppositional.

Pick something to pieces or pick apart can be used interchangeably with this idiom, although each has its own separate literal meaning as well as additional figurative sense. The word poke can be used interchangeably with pick.

To pick holes in something can also have a literal meaning, referring to poking or pinching holes in something. “Stop picking holes in the bread! If you want to eat some then cut off a slice. Don’t pick at it!”

Examples Of Use

“You’ve picked holes in everybody else’s ideas but so far you haven’t offered up any of your own solutions. Put up or shut up!”

“It was easy to pick holes in the testimony of the hired witness. They were just in it for the money!”

“I can’t deal with him anymore. He constantly picks holes in everything I say.”

“His fellow academics picked his theory to pieces, but in the end, he was vindicated.”

“By the time the editor got done picking apart my article, I had to start all over.”

Origin

To pick holes in something has been used figuratively since the mid-1600s.

It uses the word pick in the sense of ‘pierce’ or ‘poke.’

This usage dates as far back as the 1300s.

More Idioms Starting with P

More Hole Idioms

More Pick Idioms

More Poke Idioms


Discover more from Idioms Online

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.