What Does "Pickin' and Grinnin'" Mean?
"Pickin' and grinnin'" is an English idiom. It is a colloquial expression referring to the act of playing a musical instrument, especially a stringed instrument like a guitar or banjo, while smiling or enjoying oneself.Examples in Sentences
Here are three examples of the idiom "pickin' and grinnin'" used in a sentence:- The band spent the evening pickin' and grinnin', entertaining the audience with their lively tunes.
- Whenever he picked up his guitar, you could count on him to start pickin' and grinnin'.
- The jam session turned into a night of pickin' and grinnin' as musicians played their favourite songs.
What Is an Idiom?
An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Pickin' and Grinnin'" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.
A Quick Test
You now know what "pickin' and grinnin'" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
Gold
Silver
Bronze
- This test has questions.
- A correct answer is worth 5 points.
- You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
- Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
- Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
- 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?
