pick him up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pick him up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to suggest that someone (or a group of people) should go to a specific location to collect or meet someone. For example, "Let's go pick him up from the train station."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"That will pick him up some votes".

The New York Times

Could I pick him up?

The New York Times - Magazine

we're going to pick him up now.

Independent

Reyes is there to pick him up, though.

The New York Times

Then Londos would pick him up for airplane spin.

The New Yorker

"When they pick him up, he passes to his teammates.

The New York Times - Sports

"They sent down the detectives to pick him up".

The New York Times

"It was our job to pick him up".

The New York Times - Sports

I would just love going to pick him up everyday.

The New Yorker

In September, Romanova flew to pick him up from jail.

The New York Times

The young woman at the other end of the line interrupted her with, "Pick him up, Madam, pick him up.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pick him up" to denote someone collecting a person from a specific location, like a school, airport or home.

Common error

While versatile, resist using "pick him up" in contexts where it's intended to mean 'encourage' or 'support' as it dilutes the primary meaning of physical retrieval. Use alternatives like "encourage him", or "support him" for emotional uplifting.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pick him up" is that of a phrasal verb. It combines the verb 'pick' with the particle 'up', creating a meaning distinct from the individual words. This is evidenced by Ludwig's examples, where it is commonly used to denote collecting someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "pick him up" is a very common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the action of retrieving someone from a specific location. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely applicable in various contexts, particularly in news media, general conversation, and even scientific writing. While versatile, it's best to use "pick him up" in contexts relating to physical retrieval to prevent any misunderstanding. For instances that demand emotional support or encouragement, using alternative expressions is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

collect him

Focuses on the action of gathering someone, simplifying the phrasing.

go get him

Emphasizes the act of retrieving someone, keeping it simple and direct.

fetch him

Implies going to get someone, offering a more concise option.

give him a ride

Highlights the transportation aspect, adding context of providing a ride.

drive to collect him

Specifies driving as the means of collection, adding clarity to the method.

take him

General term for escorting someone, lacking the specific context of retrieval.

meet him and bring him back

Expands on the action to include meeting and returning with the person.

escort him

Formal term for accompanying someone, suitable for specific situations.

transport him

Highlights the action of moving someone, generally in a formal register.

uplift him

Figurative meaning focused on giving him support, unlike the literal meaning of 'pick him up'.

FAQs

What does "pick him up" mean?

The phrase "pick him up" typically means to go to a location and collect someone, often by car or other means of transportation.

What can I say instead of "pick him up"?

You can use alternatives like "collect him", "fetch him", or "give him a ride" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "pick up him" instead of "pick him up"?

No, it's grammatically incorrect to say "pick up him". The correct phrasing is "pick him up" because it's a phrasal verb where the pronoun must come between the verb and the particle.

When is it appropriate to use "pick him up"?

It's appropriate when you want to convey that someone will retrieve or collect a person from a specific place. For example, "I will pick him up from school at 3 PM."