Meaning & use
pick a brain
Last updated
Meaning
phraseidiominformal
to ask someone questions in order to get their knowledge, ideas, or advice about something
Grammar: Often used with 'about' or 'on': pick someone's brain about a subject. The possessive is required: 'pick his brain', not 'pick the brain'.
Patterns
- pick someone's brain about something
- pick someone's brain on something
- can I pick your brain?
I'd love to pick your brain about how you started your own business.
She asked if she could pick his brain on a few technical questions before the meeting.
Whenever I'm stuck on a problem, I pick my sister's brain — she always has good ideas.
Common combinations
- pick someone's brain about something
- He picked the professor's brain about choosing a major.
- pick someone's brain on something
- Can I pick your brain on a legal issue for a minute?
- want to pick your brain
- I want to pick your brain about moving to Canada.
- let me pick your brain
- Let me pick your brain — you've worked in this field for years.
Synonyms and how they differ
- consult
- More formal and often suggests a professional or paid service; 'pick someone's brain' is casual and friendly.
- ask for advice
- A plain phrase that states the purpose; 'pick a brain' is an informal idiom with a more personal, chatty tone.
Commonly confused: pick a brain or pick someone's brains?
pick a brain vs pick someone's brains
British English often uses the plural 'brains' in this idiom, but American English prefers the singular 'brain'.
Practice
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose one answer.
The standard American English form is 'pick someone's brain about something', so option 0 is correct. Option 1 uses the British plural, which is less common in American English; option 2 is missing the possessive; option 3 uses 'a brain' instead of the required possessive.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pick a brain”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.