Pick-me definition: what "Pick-me" means and examples

February 12, 2026

A person who goes out of their way to seek validation by putting others down or acting "different."

A "pick-me" (usually "pick-me girl") is someone who tries to gain the attention of the opposite sex by claiming they "aren't like other girls." They might mock typical feminine interests like makeup or fashion to appear more relatable to men. It is generally a derogatory term used to call out someone for being inauthentic or for throwing their own peers under the bus for male approval. It highlights a rejection of "performative" behaviour in favour of genuine solidarity.

Examples:

  1. "She is such a pick-me; she keeps saying she only hangs out with boys because girls are 'too much drama'."
  2. "Stop being a pick-me and just admit that you like the song like everyone else does."
  3. "His whole 'nice guy' act is starting to give off major pick-me energy."

We've compiled this dictionary of common teen slang to help parents communicate with their kids. SafetyMode is the world's most advanced parental safety app for phones, making any Android phone safe for kids. You can find out more and download the app just here.

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