pick-off

[ pik-awf, -of ]

noun

1. Baseball. a play in which a base runner, caught off base, is tagged out by an infielder on a quick throw, usually from the pitcher or catcher.
2. Electronics. a mechanism that senses mechanical motion and produces a corresponding electric signal.

pick off

verb

1. tr, adverb to aim at and shoot one by one

Word History and Origins

Origin of pick-off¹

First recorded in 1935–40; noun use of verb phrase pick off

Idioms and Phrases

Shoot after singling out, as in The hunter picked off the ducks one by one . [Early 1800s]

Example Sentences

The shorter balls allowed Van de Zandschulp, who is ranked 80th in the world but beat Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open, to pick off his opponent.

From BBC

Academic scientists need to stand together, or they’ll be picked off individually and science will suffer.

From Los Angeles Times

New Zealand flanker Dalton Papali'i had just picked off his pass and cantered in to give New Zealand a seven-point head start.

From BBC

Jared Goff gets picked off five times and the Lions still win?

From Los Angeles Times

Orange Lutheran picked off three passes on defense, Cuneo making the last on a tumbling interception in the end zone for a touchback with 4:10 left.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blast
• execute
• explode
• fire
• hit
• hurl
• kill
• launch
• murder
• open fire