pick up — 6 meanings

One phrase, 6 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb6 meanings

pick up

collect

learn casually

improve

acquire illness or habit

answer the phone

detect or notice

Meaning 1 · most common

collect

pick sb/sth up

To go somewhere and bring someone or something with you, usually by car or another vehicle.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Can you pick me up from the airport at 7 p.m.?

A: What time should I pick you up after work?
B: Around six would be perfect, thanks.

Common mistake

Not: I'll pick up ~~her~~ at six.

Say: I'll pick her up at six.

With a pronoun, the object MUST go in the middle: 'pick her up', never 'pick up her'.

More on “collect”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I finish my exam early, my dad will pick me up so I don't have to take the bus home.

Tell it apart

I'll pick my sister up from the airport.

go and get her

I picked up a bit of Spanish there.

learned it casually

Goes with

pick up + person/item

Practice saying this

Next meaning: learn casually

Meaning 2

learn casually

pick sth up

To learn something without formal lessons, often by hearing or watching others.

How oftenCommon

LevelB1

Used inMostly spoken

Examples

She picked up some Spanish while traveling in Mexico.

A: How did you learn to cook so well?
B: I just picked it up from watching my grandmother.

Common mistake

Not: I ~~picked up~~ English at university for four years.

Say: I studied English at university for four years.

Formal, sustained study is 'study/learn'. 'Pick up' is casual and incidental.

More on “learn casually”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

I picked up a few useful phrases by listening to English songs and watching movies.

Tell it apart

I picked up a few phrases on holiday.

learned casually

I studied the language for years.

formal, sustained study

Goes with

pick up + skill

Practice saying this

Next meaning: improve

Meaning 3

improve

To get better or increase in level, especially after being low or slow.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Sales usually pick up before the holidays.

A: How's your cold?
B: Much better, my energy is finally picking up.

Common mistake

Not: I picked up ~~business~~ after the festival.

Say: Business picked up after the festival.

This sense is intransitive: 'business picked up', not 'I picked up business'.

More on “improve”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

The weather picked up in the afternoon, so we decided to go for a walk.

Tell it apart

Sales picked up over the summer.

improved / increased

I picked the kids up after school.

collected them

Goes with

something picks up

Practice saying this

Next meaning: acquire illness or habit

Meaning 4

acquire illness or habit

pick sth up

To get an illness or habit, often by accident or without trying.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

He picked up a cold during his trip to London.

A: Why are you coughing?
B: I must have picked up something from the office.

Common mistake

Not: I ~~picked up~~ a new language to boost my career.

Say: I learned a new language to boost my career.

This sense is accidental and negative. Deliberate, goal-driven gain is 'learn', not this 'pick up'.

More on “acquire illness or habit”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

People can easily pick up bad habits if they spend time with the wrong crowd.

Tell it apart

She picked up a cough on the trip.

caught it by chance — negative

She picked up some Italian on the trip.

learned it casually — positive

Goes with

pick up + illness/habit

Practice saying this

Next meaning: answer the phone

Meaning 5

answer the phone

pick up sth

To answer a phone call.

How oftenVery common

LevelB1

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Sorry, I couldn't pick up because I was in a meeting.

A: Can you pick up the phone? It's been ringing for ages!
B: Sure, I'll get it.

Common mistake

Not: Nobody picked up the ~~phone to me.~~

Say: Nobody picked up. / Nobody answered the phone.

'Pick up' usually stands alone for calls — adding 'to me' is unnatural.

More on “answer the phone”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

If I'm busy, I usually don't pick up unknown numbers.

Tell it apart

She didn't pick up.

didn't answer the call

She didn't pick me up.

didn't come and collect me

Goes with

pick up + phone/call

Practice saying this

Next meaning: detect or notice

Meaning 6

detect or notice

pick sth up

To notice or detect something — a sound or signal with equipment, or (as 'pick up on') a feeling or hint that isn't obvious.

How oftenCommon

LevelB2

Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

The microphone can pick up even the quietest sounds.

A: Did you hear that noise?
B: No, my ears didn't pick it up.

Common mistake

Not: The mic didn't pick up on my voice.

Say: The mic didn't pick up my voice.

Equipment detecting a signal is 'pick up + object'; 'pick up ON' is for subtle social cues.

More on “detect or notice”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

Modern medical equipment can pick up early signs of illness that people might miss.

Tell it apart

The mic picked up every sound.

detected it

She picked up on the tension.

noticed it without being told

Goes with

pick up + signal

Practice saying this

Test yourself: which one is it?

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collect learn casually improve acquire illness or habit answer the phone detect or notice