pick-me boy

English

Etymology

From the phrase pick me + boy; possibly arose as a counterpart to pick-me girl.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔɪ

Noun

pick-me boy (plural pick-me boys)

1. (slang, derogatory, rare) A man who claims or acts as if he is unlike most other men, in order to gain attention from women.
   • 2021 March 2, Catie Powers, “TikTok Is Calling Out Toxic "Pick Me Boys" And We're So Here For It”, in Girlfriend‎^[1]:

     That’s right, Gen Z has turned the spotlight onto "pick me boys." These are the guys who, yep you guessed it, claim they’re “not like other guys”. Except, unlike "pick me girls", "pick me boys" don’t appear on our movie screens. No. These boys make their cameos primarily on Snapchat. And, according to TikTok, they all follow the same script.

   • 2021 December 24, Alice Porter, “What Is A ‘Pick Me Boy’ – & How Do You Spot One?”, in Refinery29‎^[2]:

     'Pick me boys' are a completely different story. The aim is similar – trying to make themselves stand out from other men – but their approach varies entirely. 'Pick me boys' self-deprecate and fish for compliments as a form of flirting.