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picking at things

English translation: touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

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07:29 Nov 25, 2009

English to English translations [PRO]
Medical - Medical: Health Care / Alzheimer

English term or phrase: picking at things

Doing things over and over; or repeatedly picking at things or winding string or thread.
[what does it means exactly and what are those things?]

jmarcin2

English translation:touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

Explanation:
This may include household items or parts of one's body

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-11-25 08:59:07 GMT)
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or clothes, obviously

Selected response from:

Mikhail Kropotov
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:20

Grading comment

Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +12

touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

Mikhail Kropotov

4 +1

compulsive disorder

Lucinda

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +12

touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

Mikhail Kropotov
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:20
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Russian
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

Thank you!

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

compulsive disorder

Explanation:
This is a compulsive behaviour where people are endlessly washing their hands. taking countless bahts, and smoothing over things like someone else said. They often do this until their hands are rubbed raw. Some are unable to function in their normal lives.

I believe that this is called a compulsive disorder and there are different degrees of compulsion.

I hope that this helps.
Take care!
Lucinda

Lucinda
Local time: 13:20
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO

Non-PRO (1): Tony M

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picking at things

English translation: touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

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picking at things

English translation: touching and/or adjusting whatever is at hand

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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