Pick Up – Meaning and Examples
Did you ever lift a box from the floor? Or collect a friend in your car? You were using the idiom pick up. This common phrase has many useful meanings in daily life. Learning pick up will help you talk about lifting things, learning skills, collecting people, and situations improving.
What Does “Pick Up” Mean?
“Pick up” is a versatile idiom with several meanings. It can mean to lift something, to collect someone or something, to learn something informally, or for something to improve.
Think of it like this: A waiter picks up a plate from the table. You can also pick up a new word by listening to conversations.
Remember, the meaning changes based on the situation. It is not just about lifting objects.
When to Use It
You can use this idiom in many different contexts.
- Lifting: “Can you pick up that pen for me?”
- Collecting: “I will pick up the kids from school at 3 PM.”
- Learning: “I picked up some Spanish while traveling in Mexico.”
- Improving: “Business is starting to pick up this season.”
The tone is neutral and practical. It works perfectly in informal and everyday conversations.
Example Sentences
- Could you pick up some milk from the store?
- She picked up the skill very quickly.
- The wind is starting to pick up.
- I’ll pick you up at 8 o’clock for the movie.
Mini Dialogue
Maria: “Can you pick up dinner on your way home?”
David: “Sure. Should I pick up pizza?”
Maria: “Yes, please! And the traffic is picking up, so drive carefully.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The main mistake is using “pick up” only for physical objects. Remember it can also mean to learn or to improve.
❌ Don’t say: “I will pick up my friend’s phone call.” (For a phone call, we say “I will answer my friend’s call.”).
✅ Do say: “I will pick up my friend from the airport.” OR “I picked up a few words of French.”
Practice Tip
Try to use one new meaning of “pick up” this week. For example, tell someone, “I picked up a new hobby,” or offer to “pick up” groceries.
Final Note
This is one of the most useful and common phrases in English. With so many meanings, you will hear and use it all the time. Don’t worry about learning all the meanings at once. You will pick them up naturally!
