Choose your battles vs Pick your battles

Both 'choose your battles' and 'pick your battles' are correct phrases that are commonly used in English. They have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably.

Last updated: March 29, 2024 • 428 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Choose your battles"

This phrase means to select which problems or issues to become involved in or to fight against. It implies the importance of conserving energy and resources for significant challenges.

Examples:

In a negotiation, it's important to choose your battles wisely.
She always advises her team to choose their battles carefully.

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Either way, you've got to choose your battles.
I'm telling to choose your battles wisely, Bette.
You have to choose your battles in life and this is not a battle I'm choosing.
Choose your battles, people.
After everything that happened the last time we went above ground, we have to choose our battles.
He taught me how to fight, when to choose my battles.
If I were you, I'd pick and choose my battles.
You can choose the battle, but if you send me out, I'm fighting my way.
We each choose our own battles, Charles.
Be mindful of the battles you choose, because it will not always be this easy.
Why did you choose this particular battle here?
A trivia contest, and you may choose the field of battle.
A trivia contest, and you may choose the field of battle.
It's the battles you choose and the people you protect.
The general who chooses the field of battle wisely wins before the fighting starts.
When that happens, when the battle chooses us, and not the other way around, that's when the sacrifice can turn out to be more than we can bear.
Our chamberlain needs your battle skill.
Choose your next employer more carefully.
Choose your husband carefully, miss Pratt.
Choose your penance Argos, destruction or sacrifice.

Alternatives:

pick your battles
select your battles
decide your battles
determine your battles
opt for your battles

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Pick your battles"

This phrase has the same meaning as 'choose your battles' and is used to advise someone to select which conflicts or issues to engage in. It emphasizes the idea of strategic decision-making in conflict situations.

Examples:

As a manager, you need to pick your battles with your team.
She learned to pick her battles after realizing she couldn't fight every battle.

Show examples from the web [+]

You just have to pick your battles.
You don't get to pick your battles, but you still have to win them.
You got to pick your battles, sweetheart.
Well, you have to pick your battles.
You have to pick your battles.
Pick your battles, Bel. (KNOCKING AT DOOR)
You need to pick your battles, son.
We can discuss it all you want, but like I keep saying, pick your battles, or they get picked for you.
But, you know, pick your battles, right?
There is no time to pick your battles when your battles have already picked you.
Pick your battles I guess.
Pick your battles, Malik.
Pick your battles, Brock.
Pick your battles, Bel.
But you've got to pick your battles.
No. You have to pick your battles.
You pick your battles, and it works out.

Alternatives:

choose your battles
select your battles
decide your battles
determine your battles
opt for your battles

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Choose your battles vs Pick your battles

"Choose your battles"

"Pick your battles"

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