Dictionary Home »
Phrase Meanings » pick up
What does "pick up" mean?
-
Lift, take up by hand, as in Please pick up that book from the floor. [Early 1300s]
-
Collect or gather, as in First they had to pick up the pieces of broken glass.
-
Tidy, put in order, as in Let's pick up the bedroom, or I'm always picking up after Pat. [Mid-1800s]
-
Take on passengers or freight, as in The bus picks up commuters at three stops.
-
Acquire casually, get without great effort or by accident. For example, I picked up a nice coat at the sale, or She had no trouble picking up French. This usage is even extended to contracting diseases, as in I think I picked up the baby's cold. [Early 1500s]
-
Claim, as in He picked up his laundry every Friday.
-
Buy, as in Please pick up some wine at the store on your way home.
-
pick up the bill or check or tab. Accept a charge in order to pay it, as in They always wait for us to pick up the tab. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
-
Increase speed or rate, as in The plane picked up speed, or The conductor told the strings to pick up the tempo.
-
Gain, as in They picked up five yards on that pass play.
-
Take into custody, apprehend, as in The police picked him up for burglary. [Colloquial; second half of 1800s]
-
Make a casual acquaintance with, especially in anticipation of sexual relations, as in A stranger tried to pick her up at the bus station. [Slang; late 1800s]
-
Come upon, find, detect, as in The dog picked up the scent, or They picked up two submarines on sonar, or I can't pick up that station on the car radio.
-
Resume, as in Let's pick up the conversation after lunch.
-
Improve or cause to improve in condition or activity, as in Sales picked up last fall, or He picked up quickly after he got home from the hospital, or A cup of coffee will pick you up. [1700s]
-
Gather one's belongings, as in She just picked up and left him.
-
pick oneself up. Recover from a fall or other mishap, as in Jim picked himself up and stood there waiting. [Mid-1800s] Also see the subsequent entries beginning with pick up.
Learn more about pick up