Pick up usage and meaning are numerous, and only the most important ones will be explained here.
1. (Usually referred to as driving, boat, etc.) Pick up, pick up, or pick up cargo
We drove to the airport the next morning to pick up Susan.
We drove to the airport the next morning to pick up Susan.
I’ll pick you up at school. Meet me at the front gate. I'll pick you up at school and see you at the front door.
Could you do me a favour and pick up Sam from school today?
Can you do me a favor to pick up Sam at school today?
The trucks waited at the warehouse to pick up their loads.
Trucks wait in the warehouse to load the goods.
2. Pick up; lift; pick up; pick up; Take, retrieve; Answer phone calls; buy; pay, pay; pack (items, scraps, etc.) to make money
He picked his cap up from the floor and stuck it back on his head...
He picked up his hat from the floor and put it back on his head.
Pick up one of our free information sheets at reception.
Please pick up a copy of our free profile at the reception.
She bent forward to pick up the newspaper.
She bent down to pick up the newspaper.
She bent down to pick up her glove.
She leaned over to pick up her gloves.
Can you pick up my suit from the cleaner's?
Can you help me retrieve my suit from the dry cleaner?
She was going over to her parents' house to pick up some clean clothes for Oskar.
She was on her way to her parents' house to pack up some clean clothes for Oscar.
You cannot live your children's lives for them; you can only be there to pick up the pieces when things go wrong.
You can't live for your child, you can only help solve problems when they arise.
Oxford Advanced English-Chinese Dictionary
I’ll pick my book up at your place. Are you gonna be home?
I'll go to your house and get the book, will you be at home?
Someone’s calling you. Are you gonna pick up? Someone is calling you, are you going to answer?
Can you pick up some milk on the way home? Can you buy some milk on your way home?
The government will continue to pick up college fees for some students.
The Government will continue to pay tuition fees on behalf of some students.
The company will pick up the tab for your hotel room.
The company will pay for your hotel accommodation.
Hollywood is nothing if not creative, especially if someone else will pick up the bills.
Hollywood is a very creative place, especially if someone pays for it.
He was trying to pick up some cash scalping tickets.
He was trying to make some money by scalping tickets.
3. (After falling or being knocked down) make (yourself) slowly stand up (or get up)
Anthony picked himself up and set off along the track.
Anthony himself slowly got up and began to run down the runway again.
4. (Health) get better, recover
A good dose of tonic will help you to pick up.
A good dose of supplement will help the body recover.
5. (Effortlessly) Acquire, learn
Where did you pick up your English?
Where did you learn English?
6. Re-mention, Take Over (Opinion or Topic)
Can I just pick up that gentleman's point?
Can I follow up on that gentleman's meaning?
Alright class, let’s pick up from last time. Okay, students. Let's pick up on the last one.
7. (for the purpose of having an X relationship) to get acquainted with... Accosted
e had picked her up at a nightclub on Kallari Street, where she worked as a singer.
He hooked up with her at a nightclub on Callari Street, where she worked as a singer.
8. (Trade, economy) improvement; acceleration
Industrial production is beginning to pick up.
Industrial production is beginning to improve.
Chinese officials hope that trade will pick up when the two countries switch to hard currency.
Chinese officials hope that trade between the two countries will pick up after they switch to hard currency.
The train began to pick up speed.
The train began to accelerate.
9. Arrest
Rawlings had been picked up by police at his office.
Rawlings was arrested by the police in his office.
10. Reception (information, signal, etc.)
It is possible to plug into remote databases to pick up information.
Access to remote databases is possible.
We can pick up Italian television.
We were able to watch the italian tv program.