Hello,
Which sentences sound natural?
- Can I pick your brain over the list of questions?
- Can I pick your brains over the list of questions?
Thanks!
Hi OTS,
‘Pick your brains’ is to me the most common. For me the preposition most appropriate would be ‘about’ or ‘on’. ‘Pick your brain’ is equally acceptable.Here is a quote from BNC bnc.bl.uk/saraWeb.php?qy=pick+yo … ysubmit=Go If this doesn’t open, go to BNC (British National Corpus) and enter ‘pick your brains’ or ‘pick your brain’ in the search section.
Alan
Yes, sharp eyed lady! I have now changed it.
Alan
Hi Alan
Many thanks for your explanation. Now I’m clear on it!
PS:
Is it a reference to Bev? :))
Hello Alan,
Is “pick someone’s brain” acceptable but not correct?
Hi OTS,
I am referring to the exotic Tofu!
Alan
Hi Dean,
There is apparently a BE vs AmE difference here. Though I’ve heard the expression used with ‘brains’ on occasion, I would generally expect the plural mainly when the reference is to more than one person (i.e. picking several people’s brains). Otherwise, it would be more common to see that expression used with the singular (‘brain’) on the American side of the pond.
[color=darkblue]____________________________________________________________________________________
[size=75]“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the office.” ~ Robert Frost [/size]
Hi Amy,
Thank you for your concern and explanation!
And you’ve hit the nail on the head - my brain always tends to power down once I’ve gotten into the office.
Hehe. )))
I don’t think there’s a BE AmE difference as I would expect the same as Amy (and Alan has also indicated that both are equally acceptable).
Hi,
I think this AmE/BrE difference here can easily be overegged. Clearly more than one ‘brain’ becomes ‘brains’ - well we all know that, don’t we?
Alan