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Definition pick up in British English

pick up phrasal verb

phrasal verb
1

to lift someone or something up from a surface

Example

He picked the phone up and dialled.

Example

She rushed to pick up the baby as soon as it started to cry.

Synonyms and related words
lift raise rise
1.1

to lift things up and put them in the place where they are kept in order to make a place tidy

Example

I've already asked them to pick their toys up.

Example

I am constantly picking up the things the children leave lying around.

Synonyms and related words
clean up clear out clean
1.2

to make a place clean and tidy

Synonyms and related words
clean up clear out clean
1.3

to lift something up and take it away

Example

Pick up a leaflet from your doctor's.

Synonyms and related words
touch pick up handle
2

to go and meet someone or something that you have arranged to take somewhere in a vehicle

Example

Will you pick me up after the party?

Example

I'll pick up my luggage in the morning.

Synonyms and related words
get pick up call for
2.1

to take someone who is waiting by the road into your vehicle and take them somewhere

Example

We picked up a hitchhiker on the way.

2.2

to arrest someone and take them away in a car

Example

He was picked up in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Synonyms and related words
apprehend apprehension arrest
3

to learn a new skill or start a habit without intending to

Example

She picked up a few German phrases while staying in Berlin.

Synonyms and related words
learn train master
4

to get an illness

Example

Most tourists are worried that they'll pick up a nasty stomach bug.

Synonyms and related words
suffer get contract
5

to buy something

Example

a market where you can pick up some amazing bargains

Synonyms and related words
buy get purchase
6

to notice a smell or sound, or to notice that someone or something is present

Example

The dogs must have picked up his scent.

Synonyms and related words
notice recognize observe
7

to start something again, from the point where you stopped

Example

We'll pick up this conversation when I come back.

Example

He seems to think that we can get back together and just pick up where we left off.

Synonyms and related words
come back to replay repeat
8

to improve

Example

They won't let him out of hospital until his health has picked up quite a lot.

Synonyms and related words
improve recover look up
8.1

if something such as the wind picks up, it becomes stronger

Synonyms and related words
blow blow a gale catch
8.2

if something picks up speed, it starts to move faster

Synonyms and related words
speed up accelerate quicken
Example

I don't think this thing can pick up foreign stations.

Synonyms and related words
atmospherics directional footprint
10

to start talking to someone because you want to have sex with them

Example

She went home with some man she picked up in a bar.

Synonyms and related words
ask out flirt chat up
11

to earn money

Example

the huge salaries that footballers pick up these days

Synonyms and related words
generate get get back
12

to win something such as a prize

Example

The film is tipped to pick up at least three Oscars.

Synonyms and related words
medal award walk off with
13

to pay for something

Example

Her father picks up the tab for her expensive lifestyle.

Synonyms and related words
disburse spend pay
14

to try to return to a normal life after a difficult experience

Example

He walked out on his family, leaving his wife to pick up the pieces.

Synonyms and related words
fix up manage put your affairs in order
15

to return to a situation that existed before something went wrong

Example

After the death of a partner, it can be difficult to pick up the threads of your life.

Synonyms and related words
fix up manage put your affairs in order
16

to recover from a fall or problem

Example

Nobody knows if Jim will ever pick himself up after his wife left him.

Definition pick up in British English