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pick up

pick up(

)

A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).

transitive verb phrase

1. (to collect)

a. recoger

Can you pick up your suit from the dry cleaner?¿Puedes recoger tu traje de la tintorería?

I'll pick Mom up from the airport.Yo recojo a mamá del aeropuerto.

b. buscar

Is anyone going to pick you up?¿Irá alguien a buscarte?

c. pasar a buscar

If you need a ride, I can pick you up.Si necesitas un aventón, puedo pasarte a buscar.

2. (to take from the floor)

a. recoger

Pick up your litter!¡Recoge la basura!

b. levantar

She picked the chair up off the floor.Levantó la silla del suelo.

c. alzar

I picked up the baby and kissed his cheek.Alcé el bebé y le besé la mejilla.

3. (to answer)

a. contestar

I never pick up the phone before 7 am.Nunca contesto el teléfono antes de las 7 am.

b. coger

Pick up the phone, will you?¡Vamos, coge el teléfono!

4. (to learn)

a. aprender

My sister picks up languages very easily.Mi hermana aprende idiomas muy fácilmente.

b. agarrar

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

It was easy for her to pick up knitting.Le fue fácil agarrar el tejido.

c. coger

She picked up the native accent immediately.Cogió el acento nativo enseguida.

5. (to arrest)

a. detener

The thief was hiding nearby until the police came and picked him up.El ladrón estaba escondiendo por aquí cerca hasta que vino la policía y lo detuvo.

b. agarrar

After a massive search, they finally picked up the criminals.Tras una búsqueda exhaustiva, finalmente agarraron a los criminales.

6. (telecommunications)

a. recibir

The radio isn't picking up a signal.Mi radio no recibe una señal.

b. agarrar

Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.

(Latin America)

My computer doesn't pick up your Wi-Fi.Mi computadora no agarra tu red inalámbrica.

c. coger

In this area my phone doesn't pick up the signal.En esta zona mi móvil no coge la señal.

7. (to restart)

a. retomar

Can we pick up the conversation where we left off?¿Podemos retomar la conversación donde nos quedamos?

8. (illness)

a. pillar

You're more likely to pick up that disease in hot places.Es más probable que pilles la enfermedad en lugares calurosos.

9. (to understand)

a. captar

I didn't pick up the hint.No capté la indirecta.

10.

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

(to seduce)

a. ligar con

A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).

(colloquial)

He picked up a girl at the bar last night.Ligó con una chica en el bar anoche.

An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).

intransitive verb phrase

11. (to improve)

a. mejorar

Things at home are finally picking up.Por fin las cosas están mejorando en casa.

b. recuperarse

Sales are picking up.Las ventas se van recuperando.

12. (to strengthen)

a. levantarse

The wind's picking up; it's going to be a rough crossing.El viento se levanta; la travesía será dura.

13. (telecommunications)

a. contestar

I tried ringing my aunt several times, but she didn't pick up.Traté varias veces de llamar a mi tía, pero no contestó.

14. (to continue)

a. continuar

I found it impossible to pick up where I was before the interruption; I was too upset.Me fue imposible continuar por donde iba antes de la interrupción; estaba muy alterado.

Examples