pick up
/pɪk ʌp/
Meaning
To collect someone or something from a specific place, usually in a vehicle. In travel, this is commonly used when meeting someone at an airport, retrieving luggage, or collecting a rental car.
Examples
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My friend offered to pick me up from the airport.
My friend offered to pick me up from the airport.
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We need to pick up our luggage at baggage claim carousel number 4.
We need to pick up our luggage at baggage claim carousel number 4.
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Where can we pick up the keys to our holiday rental apartment?
Where can we pick up the keys to our holiday rental apartment?
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The hotel shuttle picks up guests every thirty minutes.
The hotel shuttle picks up guests every thirty minutes.
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I have to pick up my rental car from the desk near the arrival hall.
I have to pick up my rental car from the desk near the arrival hall.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I will pick up you at eight o'clock.
✓ I will pick you up at eight o'clock.
If the object of 'pick up' is a pronoun (like you, her, us), it must be placed between 'pick' and 'up'.
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✗ Where is the pick up place for the taxi?
✓ Where is the pick-up zone for taxis?
When used as a noun modifying another noun, 'pick-up' needs a hyphen, and 'zone' or 'point' is more natural than 'place'.
Related Expressions
Practice
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What time should I ___ you ___ from the train station?
💡 To collect someone in a vehicle (split phrasal verb).
Show answer
pick up
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We waited for an hour to ___ our bags after the flight landed.
💡 To collect or retrieve your belongings.
Show answer
pick up