Many phrasal verbs in the English language have more than one meaning. However, the expression “pick up” has the most number of meanings. I want to spend the next three blog entries going over all of the various meanings. So today I will go over six meanings of this phrasal verb.
1. for someone to put something in their hand and lift it (usually from the ground). For example:
I saw a fifty dollar bill on the ground this morning, so I picked it up and put it in my pocket.
2. to go somewhere and get something from a store (which has often been paid for already). For example:
I picked up your shirts at the dry cleaners earlier. I put them on your bed.
3. to get someone in a car. For example:
Can you pick me up at the station at 9:00 tonight?
I was picked up at the station by my father. (passive voice)
4. to continue a discussion after a break. For example:
It’s time to eat now, so let’s pick this up again after lunch.
5. to buy something. For example:
I picked up a really nice set of golf clubs on sale at the shopping mall.
6. to get an illness like a cold or the flu. For example:
My husband picked up a cold while we were on vacation.
A cold was picked up by several people travelling on the same bus. (passive voice)
Tomorrow I will continue with another six meanings of this expression.
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