PICK SOMEONE/SOMETHING UP - Cambridge English Dictionary
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English (UK)

Meaning of pick someone/something up in English

pick someone/something up

phrasal verb with pick verb
uk
/pɪk/ us
/pɪk/

(LIFT)

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A2
to lift someone or something using your hands:
If she starts to cry, pick her up and give her a cuddle.
I picked up the kids' clothes that were lying on the floor.
I went to pick up the phone/receiver, but it had stopped ringing.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to move from a lower position to a higher position
  • liftI can't lift my arm past this point without pain.
  • raiseRaise your hand if you have a question, please.
  • elevatePut pressure on the wound and keep the injured limb elevated.
  • pick upIf the baby cries, pick him up and cuddle him.
  • scoop upShe scooped up the crying toddler and carried him off to his cot.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Raising and lowering
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(COLLECT)

A2
to collect, or to go and get, someone or something:
When you're in town could you pick up the books I ordered?
Whose turn is it to pick the children up after school?
The crew of the sinking tanker were picked up (= saved from the sea) by helicopter.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Transferring and transporting objects
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

pick something up

phrasal verb with pick verb
uk
/pɪk/ us
/pɪk/

(LEARN)

B2
to learn a new skill or language by practising it rather than being taught it:
Don't bother with the computer manual - you'll pick it up as you go along.
When you live in a country you soon pick up the language.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to learn something
  • learnI'm learning how to play the piano.
  • studyI'm studying Italian right now.
  • masterShe lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language.
  • pick upWhen you live in a country, you soon pick up the language.
  • familiarize yourself withHe prepared for the interview by familiarizing himself with the company's work.
  • get the hang of something"I've never used this software before." "Don't worry, you'll soon get the hang of it."
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to learn interesting or useful information from someone or something:
The nurse had picked up the information from a conversation she overheard.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Learning & knowing
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(BUY)

to buy something cheaply:
pick up a bargain She picked up some real bargains in the sale.
Synonyms
acquire
buy (PAY FOR)
purchase formal
snap something up informal
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to buy something
  • buyI need to buy some new shoes.
  • getI need to go to the supermarket and get some bread.
  • purchaseShe purchased a new computer.
  • pick something upCan you just pop in the shop and pick up some eggs?
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Buying
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(WIN)

to win or get a prize or something that gives you an advantage, such as votes or support:
The People's Front expect to pick up a lot more votes in this year's elections.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Getting, receiving and accepting
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(SIGNAL)

(of a piece of electrical equipment) to receive a signal:
pick something up on something Can you pick up (= receive broadcasts from) Moscow on your radio?
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Communications - general words
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(NOTICE)

to notice and react to something:
Police dogs picked up the scent of the two men from clothes they had left behind.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Using the eyes
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(ILLNESS)

to catch an illness from someone or something, caused by bacteria or a virus:
He picked up malaria when he was visiting the country on business.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Being & falling ill
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pick (something) up

phrasal verb with pick verb
uk
/pɪk/ us
/pɪk/
to start something again after an interruption:
The author picks the same theme up again on page ten.
pick up where someone left off Let's pick up where we left off yesterday.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Starting again
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pick someone up

phrasal verb with pick verb
uk
/pɪk/ us
/pɪk/

(POLICE)

UK informal
(of the police) to stop someone and take them to a police station in order to be questioned or arrested:
be picked up for He was picked up by the police for drug dealing.
The police picked her up just outside Canterbury.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to find and take a person who has done something wrong
  • catchThey were caught trying to smuggle cigarettes across the border.
  • arrestHe was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage to property.
  • place/put under arrestThe suspect was placed under arrest and charged with armed assault.
  • captureThe soldiers were captured by enemy forces.
  • apprehendThe police have apprehended two individuals in connection with the crime.
  • nabThe cops nabbed him as he tried to get away.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Arresting & charging
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(MEET)

informal
to start a sexual or romantic relationship with someone you do not know, by talking to that person and giving them a lot of attention:
He said he'd picked the woman up in a bar.

pick up (something)

phrasal verb with pick verb
uk
/pɪk/ us
/pɪk/

(INCREASE)

to increase or improve:
The truck picked up speed slowly.
The wind always picks up in the evening.
The number of applicants will pick up during the autumn.
His spirits picked up when he got the good news.
Her career only began to pick up when she was in her forties.
Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to get faster
  • speed upThe car sped up to 100 mph.
  • pick up speedThe hurricane is picking up speed as it approaches the coast.
  • gain speedAccidents often happen when a driver gains speed going downhill.
  • gather speedThe economic recovery was starting to gather speed.
  • accelerateThe vehicle accelerated around the turn.
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Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
to improve something
  • improveHis health has improved dramatically since he started exercising.
  • get betterThe first part of the book isn't very good but it gets better.
  • rallyThe team played badly in the first half but rallied in the second.
  • recoverWe are still waiting for the economy to recover.
  • look upOur financial situation is looking up.
  • pick upBusiness is really beginning to pick up.
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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Becoming better
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(PHONE)

to answer the phone:
I tried his home number but he didn't pick up.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Communications - by telephone
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(ROOM)

US
to tidy a room :
I picked up, but I didn't vacuum.
Pick up your room - you'd think a pig lived here!
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Cleaning generally
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(Definition of pick someone/something up from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

pick up | American Dictionary

pick up

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/

(IMPROVE/INCREASE)

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to improve an activity or increase an amount:
Retailers are starting to see sales pick up again.
The truck picked up speed slowly.

pick up something/someone

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/

(LIFT)

to lift something or someone:
He picked his briefcase up and headed for the door.
She picked up the little boy and kissed him.

pick up someone/something

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/

(TAKE)

to get or bring someone or something from somewhere:
Whose turn is it to pick up the kids from school?
A truck picks up the recycling once a week.
If the police pick someone up, they catch the person:
Cops picked up the suspect a few miles away.

pick up something

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/

(OBTAIN)

to obtain or receive something:
While you’re in town, would you pick up a book for me?
Can you pick up the Yankees game up here (= receive broadcasts of it)?
She picked up her soccer skills from her older brother (= learned them informally).
Gwen picked up a cold on her trip (= started to suffer from it).

pick up someone

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/
infml

(MEET)

to meet someone for the first time and begin having a romantic relationship

pick up (something)

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
us
/pɪk/

(START AGAIN)

to start again after an interruption:
The author picks up the theme again on page ten.
In tomorrow's class we’ll pick up where we left off.
(Definition of pick someone/something up from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

pick up | Business English

pick up

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
uk
/pɪk/ us
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to improve:
When business picks up he'll probably offer permanent jobs to the most valued employees.

pick sth up

phrasal verb with pick verb [ T ]
uk
/pɪk/ us
to buy something, usually cheaply:
We picked up a bargain on the housing market during the recession.
pick up the bill/tab (US pick up the check)
informal
to pay for what has been bought, especially a meal in a restaurant:
The airline picked up the bill for the night spent at the hotel.
(Definition of pick someone/something up from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Translations of pick someone/something up

in Chinese (Traditional)
舉起, 抱起, 提起…
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in Chinese (Simplified)
举起, 抱起, 提起…
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in more languages
in Marathi
in Telugu
in Tamil
in Hindi
in Bengali
in Gujarati
in Urdu
उचलणे, घेणे, नवीन शिकणे…
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చేతులతో లేవనెత్తు/ఎత్తుకొను, ఎవరినైనా లేక దేనినైనా సేకరించు, లేక వెళ్లి తీసుకువచ్చు…
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உங்கள் கைகளைப் பயன்படுத்தி ஒருவரை அல்லது எதையாவது தூக்க, சேகரிக்க, அல்லது சென்று பெற…
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किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को हाथों से उठाना, किसी व्यक्ति या वस्तु को लाना, लेने जाना…
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হাত দিয়ে কাউকে বা কিছু তোলা, সংগ্রহ করা বা গিয়ে নেওয়া, রপ্ত করে নেওয়া…
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ઉપાડવું, ઊંચકવું, લઈ આવવું…
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اٹھانا, لانا…
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pick someone's brains idiom
pick someone's pocket idiom
pick someone/something off
pick someone/something out
pick someone/something up
pick through something
pick up steam idiom
pick up the bill/tab idiom
pick up the phone idiom
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