pick out — choose/select
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
to choose something or someone from a group of options.
Say it like a native
Textbook Please select the item you find most appealing.
Native Just pick out the one you like.
'Select the most appealing item' is shop-assistant formal; 'pick out' is casual.
Pattern: pick out + noun/pronoun
In use
- It took me ages to pick out a birthday card for my sister.daily life
- If I had to pick out one book that influenced me the most, it would be 'To Kill a Mockingbird' because of its powerful message.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ Can you pick out it for me?
✓ Can you pick it out for me?
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle — 'pick it out', not 'pick out it'.
Common collocations
pick out— pick out, pick out a few, pick out the best, pick it out
Don't confuse it
Do not confuse with 'pick up' (to collect or lift) or 'pick on' (to bully).