Pick Your Brain – Meaning, Origin & Usage
Ever been at work and someone says they want to pick someone’s brains? This article is going to spell out what they mean by that, and go into how the phrase may have originated. It will also cover how the phrase should be used, before delving into alternative phrases that you may decide to use in its place.
Let’s get straight to it.
What does the phrase “pick your brain” mean?
The phrase “pick your brain” is an idiom that describes asking someone for their thoughts or memories on something, usually for advice or information.
The historical origins of the phrase “pick your brain”
The precise origins of the phrase are not known, but there has been some speculation about it. The first is that it is derived from the late 1800’s when doctors, professors and students would use dead bodies to learn more about human biology, and sometimes even remove pieces of a living patient’s brain in order to learn more about it. This practice was known as “brain picking”.
Another theory is that it came from business deals in the early 1900’s. These deals were often finalized by two parties “picking each other’s brains” in order to come to an agreement, so that a written contract could be drawn up.
Modern usage of the phrase “pick your brain”
The phrase “pick your brain” is commonly used today in a wide range of contexts. For example, it is often used in B2B settings, especially when an agreement or contract is to be established.
However, it can also be used for many endeavours outside of that, for example in fitness or sport. It can also be used when debating the clues in a crime scene as to what they might mean and to shed light on possible explanations of events
How to use the phrase “pick your brain” correctly
Here’s how the phrase can be used:
- I’d/he’d/she’d/they’d like to pick your brain.
- I/he/she/they want to pick your brain.
- He/she/they needs to pick your brain.
- I need to pick your brain.
- Pick his/her/their brain.
Similar phrases you can use in place of “pick your brain”
If you don’t like the phrase “pick your brain”, there are many alternative phrases that you may be able to use in its place. Here’s a list for you:
- What’s your point of view?
- What are thoughts on this?
- I’d appreciate your perspective
- What do you think?
- What am I missing here?
- Any ideas? Give me your thoughts.
- Give me some insight.
- How do you see this playing out?
- What happened last time?
Final word
So, in sum, the phrase “pick your brain” is an idiom that describes asking someone for their thoughts or memories on something, usually for advice or information. The precise origin of the phrase is not known but there has been speculation that it comes from the study of the brain, or from making business deals.
