Pickings/ˈpɪkɪŋz/ Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Availability Nuance Suggests limited or remaining options, often after better choices were taken. After the sale, the pickings were quite sparse. Pro Tip 2/3Colloquial Use Common in informal conversations, not for formal documents. At the flea market, the pickings were surprisingly good. Pro Tip 3/3Metaphorical Context Often used metaphorically to talk about non-physical choices like opportunities. In the job market, the pickings are slim.