pick a fight
idiom
: to deliberately start a fight with someone
It would be foolish to pick a fight with that guy.
Examples of pick a fight in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The more nationalistic Beijing becomes, the harder Xi may try to pick a fight—so the United States should avoid giving him any extra ammunition.
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Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2022
All of the original defendants were charged with conspiracy to riot, and prosecutors portrayed them as an organized, malicious force that came to San Diego to pick a fight with supporters of former President Donald Trump, just three days after the Capitol insurrection.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 4 May 2024
Take the high road if someone tries to pick a fight.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The last thing Miranda needed during this period of stress and fear was responsibility for a dog ready to pick a fight with every stray leaf in his path.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick a fight 
Jonathan Tepperman, Foreign Affairs, 19 Dec. 2022
All of the original defendants were charged with conspiracy to riot, and prosecutors portrayed them as an organized, malicious force that came to San Diego to pick a fight with supporters of former President Donald Trump, just three days after the Capitol insurrection.
—Will Carless, USA TODAY, 4 May 2024
Take the high road if someone tries to pick a fight.
—Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2024
The last thing Miranda needed during this period of stress and fear was responsibility for a dog ready to pick a fight with every stray leaf in his path.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pick a fight
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pick a fight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Pick a fight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20a%20fight. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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