pick their brain

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiominformal

   To ask someone questions in order to learn from their knowledge or experience.

   Grammar: Used with a possessive word before 'brain': pick his brain, pick my brain.

   Patterns

   • pick someone's brain
   • pick someone's brain about something
   • pick someone's brain on something

   I'm meeting a senior engineer tomorrow to pick her brain about the new system.

   Do you mind if I pick your brain for a few minutes about buying a house?

   He often picks his grandfather's brain on questions of history.

2. 2phraseidiominformal

   To get ideas or advice from someone by talking with them casually.

   Grammar: Also used with 'about' or 'on' to name the topic: pick their brain about marketing.

   Patterns

   • pick someone's brain about something
   • pick someone's brain on something

   Let's have coffee so I can pick your brain about starting a small business.

   She picked the professor's brain on how to apply for a scholarship.

   We picked the chef's brain about which knives are worth buying.

Common combinations

pick someone's brain about something

I'd love to pick your brain about the best way to learn Spanish.

pick someone's brain on something

He picked her brain on the details of the contract.

pick someone's brain for ideas

The team picked the designer's brain for ideas.

let me pick your brain

Let me pick your brain before I make a decision.

Synonyms and how they differ

consult

Consult is more formal and suggests a planned, professional request for advice, while picking someone's brain sounds friendly and casual.

ask for advice

This is a plain, neutral phrase; picking someone's brain is an informal idiom with the same basic idea.

Commonly confused: pick their brain or pickpocket?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pick their brain”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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