pick off

pick off  {v.}

1. To pull off; remove with the fingers.

He picked off the burs that had stuck to his overcoat.

2. To shoot, one at a time; knock down one by one.

The sniper picked off the slower soldiers as they came out into the road.

3. To catch a base runner off base by throwing the ball quickly to a fielder who tags him out.

The pitcher turned around suddenly and threw to the second baseman to pick the runner off second base.

Compare: OFF BASE.

4. To catch and, especially in football, to intercept.