The Collaborative International Dictionary
Pick off \Pick" off\, v. t.
(Baseball) to put out a baserunner who is off base by tagging him/her, especially by a quick throw from the pitcher or catcher.
to shoot so as to kill or disable, especially one by one from a position or in a situation where the target is unable to return fire at the shooter; -- used commonly of sniper fire. ``The sniper picked off a dozen passersby from the tower before he was shot down by police.''
(Football) to intercept (a pass).
Wiktionary
n. (context baseball English) An instance of throwing out a batter leading off base. vb. 1 (literally) To remove by picking. 2 To shoot one by one. 3 To dispose of tasks, obstacles, opponents etc. one by one. 4 (context baseball English) To throw out a runner by tagging them whilst they are not in contact with any of the three bases or home plate. 5 To intercept, such as a ball in flight.
WordNet
Usage examples of "pick off".
Ninhursag and Lawrence Jefferson had managed to pick off a few Sword of God cells, a few score terrorists had been killed in shoot-outs with security forces when they’.
If they managed just to drive out the pickets and pick off the relatively weak orbital bases the Star Kingdom had placed in Masada orbit, General Marcel's ground forces would be hopelessly inadequate to police the planet.
If they managed just to drive out the pickets and pick off the relatively weak orbital bases the Star Kingdom had placed in Masada orbit, General Marcel’.
Ravens will circle if there are any bones, descending finally to pick off shreds of meat.
They pick off a few of the outbound ships, but mostly let them run, too.
Was Fulk lying in wait to pick off the first to disturb that erection of stools and a table?
If we can pick off a couple of their escorts, they may turn and run for it.
His target positioned a void to pick off the scattered shots from his fighter, then another to absorb the damage Nevil was pumping out.
The Amazons of the guard pushed past Naldamak to form a wall of defense of their own bodies, using their weapons to pick off those who wheeled in shocked surprise to meet them.
It was when the diplos moved that you had a chance to harass the herd, perhaps to pick off a vulnerable youngster or invalid.
Snipers began to pick off any of the still figures that tried to move.
Occasionally, she had been told, they would pick off the isolated Deyzara who lost his footing and fell from a walkway or port structure.