1. Lit. to pull or pinch at someone or something until only pieces are left.

1. The savage birds picked the carcass to pieces.

2. The mice seem to have picked the stuffed doll to pieces.

2. Fig. to criticize someone or something harshly or unduly

1. You have just picked her to pieces. Leave her alone!

2. The critic picked the play to pieces.

3. The media picked his personal life to pieces.

4. Her ideas were picked to shreds by her coworkers.

5. The moment she left, the rest of the family started to pick her to pieces.