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Glite Dictionary
to pick at scabs

to pick at scabs

7.7
Touching scabs again and again so they do not heal, sometimes meaning you reopen old hurts
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : rascar costras
  • She keeps picking at scabs, both literally and when talking about past mistakes.

Examples

  • You should try not to pick at scabs so your injuries can heal properly.

  • He always picks at scabs when he's nervous.

  • It's best not to pick at scabs—let things heal on their own.

  • Don't pick at scabs!

  • It's important to avoid picking at scabs so your cuts can heal effectively.

  • Whenever she feels anxious, she tends to pick at scabs and relive old hurts.

  • Doctors advise that you should not pick at scabs as it can lead to scarring.

Synonyms

to rub salt in the wound
vsto pick at scabs
  • Informal
1 6.6

To make someone's bad feelings worse by reminding them of a disappointment

reopens old emotional issues repeatedly, preventing healing rather than just reminding

Antonyms

to move on
670 3.1

To start the next stage or activity and stop focusing on the past

How Damaging

to reopen old wounds
  • Informal
1 7.4
to pick at scabs
7.7
to touch
∞ 1.0
to leave alone
∞ 2.3

Surface Forms

pick at scabs infinitive
picked at scabs past
picked at scabs past participle
picking at scabs present participle
picks at scabs third person singular

Morphology

pick + at + scab

The primary, literal meaning 'to touch or disturb scabs repeatedly' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'pick' (to remove with fingers), the preposition 'at' (indicating target), and 'scab' (healing crust). While a figurative sense ('reopening old emotional wounds') exists and may require exposure, a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the literal sense.

Etymology

The phrase pick at scabs comes from the literal act of using your fingers to pick at scabs, which keeps a wound open and stops it from getting better. So, when people use it about feelings or past events, they mean someone keeps 'reopening old wounds' and 'preventing healing'.