pick a hole in someone’s coat

P

pick holes in someone’s coat (idiom / metaphor)
/ˈpɪk hoʊlz ɪn ˈsʌmwʌnz koʊt/

Variant

• pick a hole in someone’s coat

Meanings

• To find faults in someone, often unfairly or with petty criticism.
• To undermine or damage someone’s reputation by exposing flaws.
• To criticize someone’s work, ideas, or behavior.
• To make actual holes in a coat. (literal)

Synonyms: nitpick; find fault; criticize; undermine; disparage.

Example Sentences

1. The manager loved to pick holes in someone’s coat, pointing out mistakes instead of giving encouragement.
2. Rivals tried to pick holes in someone’s coat to ruin his reputation at the meeting.
3. Critics continued to pick holes in someone’s coat, attacking every weak point in his performance.
4. pick holes in something – The editor would always pick holes in something, no matter how polished the draft was.

Origin and History

The phrase “pick holes in someone’s coat” derives from the literal action of examining or poking at fabric to detect imperfections, a practice common in tailoring and clothing inspection during the early modern period.

Over time, this physical act evolved into a metaphorical expression for scrutinizing a person’s character, actions, or arguments to uncover flaws or weaknesses. The term “pick” here retains its older sense of piercing or probing with a sharp tool or finger, while “holes in someone’s coat” symbolizes vulnerabilities in one’s reputation or conduct, much like tears or defects in attire that reveal poor maintenance or quality.

Historical Context

The idiom emerged in the seventeenth century amid a rich tradition of satirical and polemical writing in English literature, where fault-finding was a frequent rhetorical device in political pamphlets, rogue narratives, and social critiques. It reflected the era’s heightened awareness of social hierarchies and personal integrity, often used to depict petty criticism or malicious gossip. As English prose developed, the phrase gained traction in printed works that explored human vices and societal hypocrisies, becoming a staple for describing overly critical or envious behavior.

Theories and Interpretations

Scholars suggest that the phrase may stem from historical customs of appraising second-hand clothing or assessing a person’s status through their appearance, where spotting a hole could imply deceit or inferiority.

Another interpretation links it to legal or inquisitorial practices, where “picking holes” in testimony meant exposing inconsistencies, extended to personal attacks. Some views emphasize its roots in everyday domestic life, portraying the coat as a metaphor for one’s public persona, with holes representing hidden moral lapses that critics eagerly exploit for advantage.

Country of Origin

The phrase first appeared in England, within the context of seventeenth-century English-language publications that captured the nation’s turbulent social and political landscape. Its development aligns with the evolution of idiomatic English during the Restoration period, influenced by the country’s burgeoning print culture and satirical traditions.

Earliest Printed Record

The earliest known printed instance of the phrase occurs in The English Rogue: Described in the Life of Meriton Latroon, a Witty Extravagant, authored by Richard Head and published in 1665. In the text, it reads:

“He is a great pretender to loyalty, and yet will pick a hole in his Coat.”

This usage illustrates the idiom’s figurative sense, applied to a character who feigns allegiance while seeking to undermine others through criticism.

Behavior, Clothes