I delved into the imagery behind 'pick' and, finally, examined the unfamiliar phrase 'pick sides' as used in Western films.
This time, I have taken up the word 'pick'. It is a word we see often, but it might actually be a difficult word to use.
Pick has many meanings, but the one we use most often is 'to choose'. It is a synonym for 'choose', but do you know the difference in the following examples?
Please pick a card.
Please choose a card.
This is used when saying 'please pick a card' in magic tricks and the like.
When you use 'pick', it implies choosing a card quickly without thinking deeply, whereas 'choose' implies taking a card after some thought.
In other words, pick has the nuance of choosing without thinking deeply.
The sentence 'She picked some flowers' means 'she plucked flowers' because it implies choosing flowers without much thought.
'Say a number that pops into your head from 1 to 10' is also 'Pick a number from 1 to 10.'
If you are asked 'What color shirt would you like?' and you say 'Pick any color,' it means 'any color is fine.'
While 'pick' means 'to choose without thinking deeply', when it becomes pick out, the image of 'out' = 'to the outside, to the end' is added, so it is used in the same way as 'choose' = 'to select carefully'.
pick up, on the other hand, means 'to lift upward without much thought' = 'to pick up'. In Japanese, when someone says 'please pick up your favorite music from the following', it means 'to choose music', but this is different from the original meaning of 'pick up'.
Finally, I 'picked up' a line using 'pick' from a scene in the movie 'Coco'.
These are the words Miguel blurted out after being told by his great-great-grandmother Imelda to choose between his family or music.
But I don't want to pick sides! Why can't you be on my side? That's what family's supposed to do. Support you. But you never will. (I can't choose between family or music. This is terrible. Isn't family supposed to support each other? And yet...)
'Side' in 'pick sides' means 'side', so it is a set phrase meaning 'to choose (one) side'.
When Miguel says 'I don’t want to pick sides.', it means 'I don't want to choose which side to be on', but since Imelda is forcing Miguel to choose between family or music, it means 'I don't want to do the act of choosing between those two'.
When I heard this expression, I thought many people would use take sides instead, so I looked it up.
Take sides: A more commonly used expression, especially in situations of conflict or debate, meaning “to stand on one side.” (An expression often used especially in situations of conflict or debate, meaning "to stand on one side")
Pick sides: Has almost the same meaning as “take sides,” but is somewhat more colloquial and emphasizes the act of choosing. (Has almost the same meaning as "take sides," but is somewhat colloquial and emphasizes the act of choosing.)
You can see that 'take sides' has a stronger sense of decision-making regarding 'standing on one side.' On the other hand, 'pick' is colloquial, an expression that simply emphasizes the act of 'choosing'.
Choosing between family and music is a very heavy subject, and considering it is a topic that breeds debate and conflict, I feel that 'take sides' would be more appropriate. However, since Miguel is still a child, he cannot choose one over the other for a clear-cut reason, so I think he used 'pick sides' quite casually.
“Pick up” any movies you like, and that will help you study English.