pickup

Everyday

1. A pickup (pickup truck) is a vehicle with a cabin in front and an open back for carrying things. tree →
2. A pickup is the act of collecting someone or something: «school pickup». tree →
3. A pickup is a rise or improvement, for example in sales. tree →
4. (music) A pickup is the part on an electric guitar that turns string sounds into electric signals. tree →
5. (verb phrase, two words) To pick up is to lift something, to collect someone, or to learn something easily. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «school pickup» is when parents collect children; in stories a pickup truck shows a farm or country setting, especially in the USA, Canada and Australia (where it is also a «ute»). Phrases: pickup time, pickup truck, pick up the phone, pick up a language.

Examples

• Grandpa drives a red pickup truck. tree →
• Pickup time is half past three. tree →
• Can you pick me up after football? tree →
• Please pick up your coat from the floor. tree →
• The pickup on the guitar was broken. tree →
• She picked up French quickly on holiday. tree →
• We loaded the hay into the back of the pickup. tree →
• Safety: wait inside the school until pickup. tree →

Note

The noun is one word (a pickup) or hyphenated (pick-up); the verb is two words (pick up). Past form: picked up. In Australia and NZ a pickup truck is often called a «ute».