Pick up what is putting down Meaning in English

expression

US

PIK-UP whut IZ PUH-ting DOWN

UK

PIK-UP wot IZ PUT-ing DOWN

Definition

This is an informal idiomatic expression meaning to understand the hidden message, hint, or suggestion that someone is trying to communicate, often in a subtle or indirect way.

Usage & Nuances

Very informal and mainly used in casual speech. Commonly heard as 'Do you pick up what I'm putting down?' to check if someone understands a subtle hint or hidden message. It often implies camaraderie or playfulness, and is rarely used in formal writing.

• Spanish: entender la indirecta - captar lo que está diciendo (indirectamente)
• Portuguese (BR): sacar o que está falando (indiretamente) - entender a dica
• Portuguese (PT): perceber o que está a dizer (indiretamente) - compreender a indireta
• Chinese (Simplified): 听懂（某人）话外之意 - 明白（他/她）在暗示什么
• Chinese (Traditional): 聽懂（某人）話外之意 - 明白（他/她）在暗示什麼
• Hindi: जो बात समझा रहा है, वह पकड़ना - इशारे को समझना
• Arabic: تفهم ما يحاول قوله (بطريقة غير مباشرة) - تلتقط التلميح
• Bengali: সে যা বলছে তা বোঝা (ইঙ্গিতে) - ইঙ্গিত বুঝে ফেলা
• Russian: понять намёк - уловить, что он/она говорит (непрямо)
• Japanese: 言いたいことを汲み取る - 暗に言っていることを理解する
• Vietnamese: hiểu ý (ẩn ý) - bắt được điều ai đó muốn nói
• Korean: 넌지시 하는 말을 이해하다 - 눈치채다
• Turkish: ne demek istediğini anlamak (üstü kapalı) - imayı almak
• Urdu: اشارے کو سمجھنا - جو کہنا چاہ رہا ہے وہ سمجھنا
• Indonesian: menangkap maksud (tersirat) - mengerti apa yang sedang disampaikan secara tidak langsung

Example Sentences

Pick up what I'm putting down?

basic

He gave me a look to see if I would pick up what he was putting down.

basic

Not everyone will pick up what you're putting down in meetings.

basic

If you pick up what I'm putting down, we can finish this project early.

natural

I'm dropping some hints—hope you pick up what I'm putting down.

natural

You didn't pick up what she was putting down—she wanted you to ask her out.

natural