Eating small pieces with one's fingers; picking up food with fingers and eating it.
子どもがクッキーをつまみ食いして怒られた。
The child was scolded for snacking on cookies with his fingers.
パーティーの前に料理をつまみ食いしないでください。
Please don't pick at the food before the party.
寿司は箸を使う人も多いが、つまみ食いする人もいる。
Many people use chopsticks for sushi, but some pick it up and eat with their fingers.
Secretly taking and eating food before the meal starts or snitching food from what’s available.
夕食の準備中に子どもが野菜をつまみ食いした。
While dinner was being prepared the child sneaked some vegetables.
お弁当を作っている最中につまみ食いするのはやめてください。
Please don't snack on the lunchbox while I'm making it.
パーティーの料理を誰かがつまみ食いして減っていた。
Someone had been snatching food at the party, and it had diminished.
Metaphorically, to embezzle or misappropriate resources little by little; exploiting something for private gain.
経理の担当者が会社の金をつまみ食いしているのではないかと疑われた。
The accountant was suspected of skimming off company funds.
公共事業の予算がつまみ食いされていると告発された。
It was alleged that public project budgets were being siphoned off.
Colloquially, a playful term for flirting or making advances (light, teasing behavior).
彼は同僚に向かってつまみ食いのような冗談を言って、場が和んだ。
He made a teasing, flirtatious joke toward a colleague and eased the mood.