pick off

/ˈpɪk ˌɔf/
noun
  1. An act of throwing the ball to a base in baseball to catch a runner off the base.
    • The pitcher's quick pick-off caught the runner napping.
    • The crowd cheered after the successful pick-off at third base.
    • He has the best pick-off move in the league.
  2. A person or thing that is chosen or removed from a group.
    • The pick-off for the cleanup crew was the oldest volunteer.
    • She was the first pick-off for the team because of her speed.
    • In the game, each player had to name their pick-off from the list.
verb
  1. To shoot or kill someone or something, usually from a distance and with careful aim.
    • The sniper could pick off enemy soldiers one by one from the hilltop.
    • Hunters sometimes pick off deer from a blind near the watering hole.
    • In the video game, you can pick off zombies with a long-range rifle.
  2. To choose or remove someone or something from a group, often in a deliberate or unfair way.
    • The coach decided to pick off the weakest players during tryouts.
    • She used a pair of tweezers to pick off the splinters from her finger.
    • The lawyer tried to pick off the key witnesses one at a time.
  3. In baseball, to throw the ball to a base to catch a runner off the base and make an out.
    • He has a great move to pick off runners who lead off too far.
    • The pitcher tried to pick off the runner at first base.
    • The catcher signaled for a pick-off attempt at second.
Antonyms