ContextPhrase · Ages 11-18 · In use
pick me
An insult for someone seen as trying too hard to win approval, often a girl accused of putting other girls down to impress boys.
She said she only has guy friends, such a pick me.
For parents and educators
It is mostly used to mock, and it often lands on girls who are a bit different from their peers. If your child is called one, it can hurt more than the silly phrase suggests. If your child uses it, it is a good moment to talk about judging other people's personalities.
Where it came from
Spread on social media from around 2018; Merriam-Webster added "pick-me girl" as a disparaging term.
Also heard as
pick-me girl, pick-me boy
Sources