English Idiom – Pick someone’s brain (or pick someone’s brains).
To ask someone questions to get information or advice from them, especially someone who knows a lot about a subject.
It’s a friendly, informal way to ask for help: “Can I pick your brain about something?” You might need to pick someone’s brain if you can’t figure something out (phrasal verb) on your own.
Usage:
- You need expert advice on a difficult task.
- You need help at work from someone with experience.
- You ask your parents for advice about a problem.
Example:
- “I have absolutely no idea how to fix this problem. I’m going to find Mike and pick his brains!”
In the News
Spotted in the news“I want to pick your brain about eliminations a bit…”tvline.comWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
To ask someone questions to get information or advice, especially someone who knows a lot about a subject.
Both are correct: “pick someone’s brain” and “pick someone’s brains” are both common.
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