pick one's battles

The phrase "pick one's battles" is an idiom advising people to engage only in important or winnable conflicts, thereby conserving energy and resources.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To selectively engage in disputes that are significant or likely to be won, avoiding minor or unwinnable conflicts.

Example

  • In a long-term project, it's crucial to pick one's battles to maintain focus and energy.
  • She decided to pick her battles and not argue about every little thing at work.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "pick one's battles":

pick atfight a losing battlepick onchoose sides