Imagine small animals like birds using their beaks for tiny, quick bites. 'Peck at' is similar.

Small Bites

When someone is not very hungry or unsure about the food, they might just peck at their meal.

Not Hungry

Use 'peck at' to describe someone eating without enthusiasm or interest in the food.

'Peck at' implies a mild but constant irritation, often related to worries or guilt.

The phrase can be emotional, conveying someone's sense of unease or regret without rest.

'Peck at' also refers to actual pecking, causing damage, typically by birds or chickens.

For physical pecking, it's often a repeated action, not just once. Imagine constant tapping.

Many birds 'peck at' objects, often out of habit, and sometimes they cause destruction.