Pecking

The act of making a series of small, sharp blows or movements, typically with a beak, fingers, or other pointed object. This can refer to a physical action, like a bird eating, or it can describe a more metaphorical action, such as someone making repeated subtle criticisms. It suggests a repetitive, often irritating or probing, interaction, and may imply an attempt to get something, be it food, information, or attention.

Pecking meaning with examples

• The hungry chickens were relentlessly pecking at the ground, hoping to unearth a tasty worm. Their determined pecking created a constant rhythmic sound that filled the quiet barnyard. Eventually, they discovered a juicy grub and fought over it, their pecking becoming more frantic as they contested for it.
• The journalist kept pecking away at the politician's statement, persistently questioning discrepancies and challenging his version of events. This form of journalistic pecking was a strategy designed to uncover the truth. Each carefully aimed question peeled back another layer of the narrative, ultimately exposing flaws in the carefully crafted facade.
• Annoyed, the little girl kept pecking at her brother's arm until he gave her a turn on the video game controller. Her relentless pecking was more effective than any pleading. She would poke at him, then, when he didn't react, would give him a more insistent poke until he broke and gave in, irritated.
• He spent the afternoon pecking away at his computer, struggling to understand the complex code, which involved typing keys on the keyboard. The arduous task was slow, but his determination to fix the problem was stronger than his frustration. The persistent pecking on the keyboard filled the otherwise silent office as he found his solutions.