pick up {v.}
During the morning Mrs. Carter picked up sticks in the yard.
After lunch, in the restaurant, Uncle Bob picked up the check.
At the next corner the bus stopped and picked up three people.
He had picked up rare coins in seaports all over the world.
He picked up knowledge of radio just by staying around the radio station.
Billy picked up a cold at school.
6a. To gather together; collect.
When the carpenter finished making the cabinet, he began picking up his tools.
6b. To make neat and tidy; tidy up; put in order.
Pick up your room before Mother sees it.
6c. To gather things together; tidy a place up.
It's almost dinner time, children. Time to pick up and get ready.
He picked up Chicago on the radio.
Mother told Mary not to walk home by herself from the party because some stranger might try to pick her up.
Police picked the man up for burglary.
State police picked up the bandit's trail.
The dogs picked up the fox's smell.
A little food will pick you up.
12a. To increase (the speed); make (the speed) faster.
The teacher told her singing class to pick up the tempo.
The car picked up speed.
12b. To become faster; become livelier.
The speed of the train began to pick up.
After the band practiced for a while, the music began to pick up.
The class picked up the story where they had left it before the holiday.
They met after five years, and picked up their friendship as if there had been no interruption.
She picked up in her schoolwork.
He picked up gradually after a long illness.
His spirits picked up as he came near home. Categories: time {informal} {v.}