Buscar
to pick up
[phrase form: pick]
01
recoger
to take and lift something or someone up
Transitive: to pick up sb/sth
Example
He picked the suitcase up and walked to the taxi stand.
Él recogió la maleta y caminó hacia la parada de taxis.
She picked her cat up to keep it from scratching the furniture.
Ella recogió a su gato para evitar que arañara los muebles.
02
recoger, levantar
to let a person waiting by a road or street to get inside one's vehicle and give them a ride
Transitive: to pick up a passenger
Example
I picked two backpackers up who were heading in the same direction.
Recogí a dos mochileros que iban en la misma dirección.
She stops to pick up strangers stranded in the rain.
Ella se detiene para recoger a extraños varados bajo la lluvia.
03
contestar, descolgar
to answer a ringing phone
Intransitive
Transitive: to pick up the phone
Example
Can you pick up the phone?
¿Puedes contestar el teléfono? Estoy ocupado cocinando.
The phone rang three times before he finally picked up.
El teléfono sonó tres veces antes de que finalmente contestara.
04
recoger, ir a buscar
to retrieve an item from a location where it was left
Transitive: to pick up sth
Example
Lisa realized she left her keys at the office and had to go back to pick them up before heading home.
Lisa se dio cuenta de que había dejado sus llaves en la oficina y tuvo que volver para recogerlas antes de ir a casa.
I need to pick up my dry cleaning before the shop closes.
Necesito recoger mi ropa de la tintorería antes de que cierre la tienda.
05
recuperarse, aumentar
to experience a positive rise in something
Intransitive
Example
After a quiet winter, hotel bookings began to pick up in spring.
Después de un invierno tranquilo, las reservas de hotel comenzaron a aumentar en primavera.
Business always picks up during the holiday season.
Los negocios siempre repuntan durante la temporada navideña.
06
asumir, tomar
to take on a role of authority or leadership
Transitive: to pick up a position of authority
Example
After the revolution, it was uncertain who would pick up power.
Después de la revolución, era incierto quién asumiría el poder.
When the CEO retired, her successor was ready to pick up the reins.
Cuando la CEO se retiró, su sucesor estaba listo para tomar las riendas.
07
aprender, adquirir
to learn about something, typically without intending to
Transitive: to pick up knowledge
Example
I picked up a few French phrases while vacationing in Paris.
Aprendí algunas frases en francés mientras estaba de vacaciones en París.
You can pick up a lot of interesting facts in museums.
Puedes aprender muchos datos interesantes en los museos.
08
detener, arrestar
to arrest someone
Transitive: to pick up sb
InformalExample
The police picked the thief up after a short chase.
La policía detuvo al ladrón después de una breve persecución.
They picked him up for questioning.
Lo detuvieron para interrogarlo.
09
resaltar, realzar
(of a color) to enhance or complement another color by being of a similar shade
Transitive: to pick up a color
Example
The navy blue scarf picked up the subtle tones in her dress, creating a harmonious ensemble.
La bufanda azul marino resaltó los tonos sutiles de su vestido, creando un conjunto armonioso.
The soft beige curtains pick up the warm hues of the wooden furniture in the room.
Las cortinas beige claro resaltan los tonos cálidos de los muebles de madera en la habitación.
10
comprar, adquirir
to purchase something
Transitive: to pick up sth
Example
She picked up a few books from the sale.
Ella compró algunos libros en la venta.
I picked up some groceries on my way home.
Recogí algunos comestibles de camino a casa.
11
animar, levantar el ánimo
to boost someone's spirits
Transitive: to pick up sb/sth
Example
Seeing her child's smile picked her up instantly.
Ver la sonrisa de su hijo la animó al instante.
After a week of rain, the forecast of sunshine picked up the town's spirits.
Después de una semana de lluvia, el pronóstico de sol animó los ánimos del pueblo.
12
recuperarse, reponer fuerzas
to recover one's strength, often after a period of fatigue
Intransitive
Example
After a nap, she picked up and felt ready to continue her work.
Después de una siesta, ella se recuperó y se sintió lista para continuar con su trabajo.
After the second set, the tennis player picked up and dominated the game.
Después del segundo set, el tenista recuperó fuerzas y dominó el partido.
13
ligar, coquetear
to approach someone, often with a romantic or sexual intent
Transitive: to pick up sb
InformalExample
He was notorious for trying to pick women up wherever he went.
Era conocido por intentar ligar con mujeres dondequiera que iba.
She 's not the type to pick up guys at a club.
Ella no es del tipo que ligue con chicos en un club.
14
captar
to notice something, such as a sense, sign, etc.
Transitive: to pick up a sense or sign
Example
With his keen hearing, he can pick up the slightest sound in the night.
Con su agudo oído, puede captar el más mínimo sonido en la noche.
It took me a moment to pick up the sarcasm in his voice.
Me tomó un momento captar el sarcasmo en su voz.
15
adquirir, aprender sobre la marcha
to acquire a new skill or language through practice and application rather than formal instruction
Transitive: to pick up a skill or language
Example
He picked up a bit of Italian while traveling through Italy.
Él aprendió un poco de italiano mientras viajaba por Italia.
You 'd be surprised how quickly children pick up new technology.
Te sorprendería lo rápido que los niños adquieren la nueva tecnología.
16
aumentar, intensificarse
(of the wind or other natural forces) to increase in strength or intensity
Intransitive
Example
As the storm approached, the wind picked up and the waves grew higher.
A medida que se acercaba la tormenta, el viento aumentaba y las olas crecían más.
The forecast says the rain will pick up by the afternoon.
El pronóstico dice que la lluvia aumentará para la tarde.
17
captar, recibir
to receive or detect a signal or transmission from a radio station or other broadcasting device
Transitive: to pick up a signal
Example
On this device, we can pick up even the weakest signals.
En este dispositivo, podemos captar incluso las señales más débiles.
I can pick up the local radio station in this area.
Puedo captar la estación de radio local en esta área.
18
retomar, continuar
to resume something, a story, activity, or relationship
Transitive: to pick up an activity
Example
After the summer break, the teacher decided to pick up the lessons from where they had left.
Después de las vacaciones de verano, el profesor decidió retomar las clases desde donde las habían dejado.
They had a disagreement last year, but now they 're trying to pick up their friendship again.
Tuvieron un desacuerdo el año pasado, pero ahora están intentando retomar su amistad.
19
contraer, agarrar
to catch an infectious disease or illness from someone or something
Transitive: to pick up a disease
Example
On his trip to the village, he picked up a stomach bug.
En su viaje al pueblo, contrajo un virus estomacal.
After swimming in the contaminated pool, many people picked up skin rashes.
Después de nadar en la piscina contaminada, muchas personas contrajeron erupciones cutáneas.
20
acelerar, ganar velocidad
to increase in speed or pace suddenly or gradually
Intransitive
Example
After a slow start, the runner picked up and finished strong.
Después de un comienzo lento, el corredor aceleró y terminó fuerte.
Business usually picks up during the holiday season
Los negocios aumentan usualmente durante la temporada navideña.
21
levantarse, incorporarse
to stand up again after falling
Transitive: to pick up oneself
Example
She was pushed during the game but swiftly picked herself up and kept playing.
La empujaron durante el juego pero rápidamente se levantó y siguió jugando.
After tripping on the sidewalk, she quickly picked herself up.
Después de tropezar en la acera, rápidamente se levantó.
22
ordenar, limpiar
to restore order or cleanliness to a space or object that has become disorganized or messy
Dialect
American
AmericanTransitive: to pick up sth
Example
Can you help me pick up the fallen leaves in the garden?
¿Puedes ayudarme a recoger las hojas caídas en el jardín?
Please pick your toys up and put them away before bedtime.
Por favor, recoge tus juguetes y guárdalos antes de acostarte.
23
recoger, buscar
to go to a place in a vehicle to collect someone who is waiting for one
Example
I'll pick you up at the airport.
Te recogeré en el aeropuerto.
I have to pick up my brother from the bus stop.
Tengo que recoger a mi hermano en la parada de autobús.
