pick someone up

Meaning

This phrasal verb means to go to a specific place to collect someone, typically in a car or other vehicle, and take them to another location. It is a fundamental part of daily coordination, commutes, and family routines. It is a separable phrasal verb, meaning pronouns like 'me', 'him', or 'them' must be placed between 'pick' and 'up'.

Examples

• Could you pick me up from the airport at around 6 PM?

  Could you pick me up from the airport at around 6 PM?

• I need to leave work early today to pick the kids up from school.

  I need to leave work early today to pick the kids up from school.

• My car is in the shop, so John offered to pick me up for the party.

  My car is in the shop, so John offered to pick me up for the party.

• What time should I pick you up tomorrow morning?

  What time should I pick you up tomorrow morning?

• She picked up her sister from the train station and drove her home.

  She picked up her sister from the train station and drove her home.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Can you pick up me at five?

  ✓ Can you pick me up at five?

  Pronoun objects like 'me', 'you', 'him', 'her', and 'them' must always go between 'pick' and 'up'.

• ✗ I will take you up from the station.

  ✓ I will pick you up from the station.

  'Take up' means to start a hobby or consume space/time. To collect someone in a vehicle, you must use 'pick up'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I'll ___ at the hotel lobby around noon.

  💡 Collect you in my car.

  Show answer

  pick you up

• Who is going to ___ from school today?

  💡 Collect the children.

  Show answer

  pick the kids up