picky

comparative pickier · superlative pickiest

1. Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.

   I am very picky about the way my kitchen is laid out.

   2 more examples

   Most of the pickiest children were actually in the middle weight group, though a few were underweight and a few were overweight.

   2018 June 4, Perri Klass, M.D., “When New Means No: Picky Eating as a Normal Toddler Phase”, in The New York Times

   Singletons have become 'pickier' about their potential partners following the pandemic, one dating expert has claimed - insisting they are now even more concerned about the 'pink flags' that could lead to 'red flag scenarios'.

   2021 December 12, Jessica Green, “The subtle signs YOUR relationship is set to fail: Relationship expert reveals the 'less-obvious' warning signals - including watching TOO much TV and not taking photos together”, in Daily Mail, London: DMG Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 19 Dec 2021

2. UKcolloquialnot comparableOf food or a meal: consisting of various small items from which the diner can pick and choose.

   picky tea

   2 more examples

   picky bits

   […] a picky meal of bean-sprouts and humous […]

   1988, Jan Webster, One Little Room, page 240

plural pickies · alternative piccy

1. informalA picture.

   And who knows, I might do a few pickies of you - fully clothed, needless to say.

   1988, Alan Hollinghurst, The Swimming-Pool Library, paperback edition, London: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 44

   Synonyms: pic