Pick up Meaning in English

expression

US

UK

Definition

'Pick up' can mean to lift something from a surface, collect someone or something, answer a phone call, learn something quickly and informally, or start talking to someone you’re interested in romantically.

Usage & Nuances

'Pick up' is highly informal and context-driven. Common collocations: 'pick up the phone', 'pick up groceries', 'pick up a language', 'pick up someone (from somewhere)'. Used in dating contexts as 'pick up someone' (flirt), but can sound negative if said about people.

• Spanish: recoger - contestar (teléfono) - aprender (informalmente) - ligar (conquistar)
• Portuguese (BR): pegar - buscar (alguém/de algo) - atender (telefone) - aprender (informalmente) - paquerar
• Portuguese (PT): apanhar - ir buscar (alguém/algo) - atender (telefone) - aprender (informalmente) - engatar (flerte)
• Chinese (Simplified): 捡起 - 接（电话）- 接人 - 学会（非正式）- 搭讪
• Chinese (Traditional): 撿起 - 接（電話）- 接人 - 學會（非正式）- 搭訕
• Hindi: उठाना - (किसी को) लेना - फोन उठाना - (ग़ैर-औपचारिक रूप से) सीखना - पटाना
• Arabic: يَلْتَقِط - يَأْخُذ (شخص) - يُجِيب (على الهاتف) - يتعلم (بشكل غير رسمي) - يغازل
• Bengali: তোলা - নিয়ে আসা - ফোন ধরা - শিখে ফেলা - প্রেমের প্রস্তাব দেওয়া
• Russian: поднять - забрать - ответить (на звонок) - быстро выучить - подкатить (к кому-то)
• Japanese: 拾う - 迎えに行く - 電話に出る - 身につける - ナンパする
• Vietnamese: nhặt lên - đón - nghe điện thoại - học lỏm - tán tỉnh
• Korean: 집다 - 데리러 가다 - 전화를 받다 - 익히다 - (이성에게) 접근하다
• Turkish: almak (bir şey) - birini almak - telefonu açmak - kapmak (öğrenmek) - tavlamak
• Urdu: اٹھانا - لے آنا - فون سننا - سیکھ لینا - چھیڑنا (عاشقانہ انداز میں)
• Indonesian: mengangkat - menjemput - mengangkat telepon - mempelajari secara cepat - menggoda (seseorang)

Example Sentences

Can you pick up the pen from the floor?

basic

I will pick up my sister from the airport.

basic

Please pick up the phone when it rings.

basic

Kids can often pick up a new language just by playing with others.

natural

I’ll pick up some groceries on my way home.

natural

He tried to pick up a girl at the party, but she wasn’t interested.

natural