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pick your brain vs pick your brains

Both 'pick your brain' and 'pick your brains' are correct phrases, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Pick your brain' is the more common and idiomatic expression, meaning to ask someone for their ideas or opinions. On the other hand, 'pick your brains' is less common and usually used in a more literal sense, referring to extracting knowledge or information from someone.

Last updated: March 21, 2024 • 1331 views

pick your brain

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to mean to ask someone for their ideas or opinions.

The phrase 'pick your brain' is used when you want to ask someone for their thoughts, ideas, or opinions on a particular topic.

Examples:

Can I pick your brain about the new project?
I'd love to pick your brain on how to improve our marketing strategy.
She's a great person to pick your brain about travel destinations.
I need to pick your brain for some advice on investing.
Do you mind if I pick your brain for a few minutes?

Show examples from the web [+]

May 12, 2015 ... 'Shark Tank' Just Revealed a Trillion-Dollar Idea · 10 Life Hacks From a Millennial Millionaire. How to Handle Requests to 'Pick Your Brain'.
Top Definition. pick your brain. To probe for answers. If you have a minute to spare, I'd like to pick your brain about lachrymology. by DGirard July 04, 2005.
If they want to pick your brain, ask them to pick a time and method of payment. ... go to way to deal with people wanting to “grab a coffee” and/or pick your brain?
Sep 18, 2013 ... Like many of us, no matter what our skill set: mechanic, physician, teacher, ski instructor: there is always someone who wants to pick your brain.

Alternatives:

get your input
seek your advice
ask for your opinion
tap into your knowledge
consult with you

pick your brains

This phrase is correct but less common than 'pick your brain'. It is usually used in a more literal sense to mean extracting knowledge or information from someone.

'Pick your brains' is used when referring to extracting knowledge or information from someone, often in a more literal sense.

Examples:

I need to pick your brains about the technical specifications of the project.
Can I pick your brains on how to fix this issue?
She's the best person to pick your brains about computer programming.
Let me pick your brains for a moment about the new software.
I'd like to pick your brains on the latest research findings.

Show examples from the web [+]

... someone thinks, what motivation of the persons actions, what triggers the feeling etc. I'd like to pick your brains out, let's have an in-depth discussion on this .
Do you mind if I pick your brains? I need some fresh ideas. See also: brain, pick. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The ...
to ask for information or advice from someone who knows more about a subject than you do I'd love to pick your brains about computers - you seem to be the ...
Sep 20, 2014 ... I spent the afternoon with Donna, picking her brain for ideas to use in our celebration. Do you mind if I pick your brains? I need some fresh ...

Alternatives:

extract information from you
gather knowledge from you
seek your expertise
obtain insights from you
learn from your experience

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