pick apart

pick apart

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

pick apart (third-person singular simple present picks apart, present participle picking apart, simple past and past participle picked apart)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see pick,‎ apart.
2. (idiomatic, transitive) To review or analyse in great detail
   1. (idiomatic, transitive) To criticise (especially small details).
3. (idiomatic, transitive, sports) To overcome by skilled execution.

   The quarterback picked apart the secondary defense in the first half.

   • 2013, Phil McNulty, "Man City 4-1 Man Utd", BBC Sport, 22 September 2013:

     Moyes, who never won a derby at Liverpool in 11 years as Everton manager, did not find the Etihad any more forgiving as City picked United apart in midfield, where Toure looked in a different class to United's £27.5m new boy Marouane Fellaini, and in defence as Aguero tormented Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.