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general::
Phrase(s): pick someone or something off
1. Fig. to kill someone or something with a carefully aimed gunshot. • The hunter picked the deer off with great skill. • The killer tried to pick off the police officer. 2. Go to pick someone or something off (of) someone., Phrase(s): pick someone or something off (of) someone or something [and] pick someone or something off
to pull or gather someone or something off something. (Of is usually retained before pronouns.) • The teacher picked the little boys off the jungle gym and hurried them back into the school building before the storm hit. • Pick off the ripe tomatoes and leave the rest.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs