pick up a conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

"pick up a conversation" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to resume or continue a conversation that was previously interrupted or dropped. Example: "The phone rang, interrupting our conversation. After I hung up, I was able to pick up the conversation where we left off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

We can just pick up a conversation at any time".

The New York Times - Sports

Its powers of hearing are not sufficiently acute to pick up a conversation, for example.

The Economist

"As we're coming in, I pick up a conversation that's happening behind me between two inmates," Mr. Shapiro said.

The New York Times

Lewis & Conger is selling something they call the G-Man-Detect-I-Phone, by means of which your child can secretly pick up a conversation 150 feet away.

The New Yorker

This allows another service representative to pick up a conversation that has been cut off abruptly by the sudden over-the-shoulder appearance of the fiancée-to-be.

The New York Times

The ray is directed at the object of the investigation from hundreds of feet away and can imperceptibly pick up a conversation and return it to the listener.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

After his first post-bombing message, at 8 04 p.m. on Monday, he picked up a conversation at 12 11 a.m.

The New York Times

A woman picks up a conversation on the telephone between two men planning a woman's murder, and she realises that she is the intended victim.

The Economist

• After his pregame visit with Coach Shula, Rubio picks up a conversation he was having on the field with the Dolphins' general manager, Jeff Ireland.

The New York Times - Sports

In one instance, while Dewey wire-workers were listening in on the bakery racket, they accidentally picked up a conversation bearing upon a case entirely outside their province.

The New Yorker

Instead, they'll begin discussing something that one of the friends Twittered that afternoon, as if picking up a conversation in the middle.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pick up a conversation" when you want to emphasize a seamless return to a previously discussed topic, suggesting a comfortable and familiar exchange.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "pick up a conversation". For instance, instead of saying "I will picked up the conversation later", use the correct form: "I will pick up the conversation later".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pick up a conversation" is as a phrasal verb acting on a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is common and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

21%

Science

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

11%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pick up a conversation" is a grammatically sound phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, used to describe the act of resuming or continuing a dialogue. While categorized as uncommon in frequency, it appears across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. Alternatives like "resume a conversation" and "continue a conversation" offer similar meanings. When using the phrase, ensure correct tense usage for clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resume a conversation

Replaces the phrasal verb with a single verb, maintaining a similar level of formality.

continue a conversation

Focuses on the ongoing nature of the talk, similar to "pick up".

take up a conversation

Uses a different preposition, slightly altering the nuance, maintaining a similar level of formality and meaning.

get back to a conversation

Uses a more informal tone compared to "pick up".

restart a conversation

Highlights the break in the dialogue more directly.

carry on with a conversation

Emphasizes the uninterrupted flow, even with minor distractions.

rekindle a dialogue

Implies a renewed interest or energy in the conversation.

reopen a discussion

Suggests a more formal or structured conversation.

recommence a discussion

A more formal alternative to resuming a conversation.

return to a previous topic

Highlights the subject matter more than the act of conversing itself.

FAQs

What does "pick up a conversation" mean?

The phrase "pick up a conversation" means to resume, continue, or return to a conversation after an interruption or pause.

What can I say instead of "pick up a conversation"?

You can use alternatives like "resume a conversation", "continue a conversation", or "take up a conversation", depending on the context.

How to use "pick up a conversation" in a sentence?

Example: "After the meeting, we can pick up the conversation where we left off."

Is it correct to say "picked up the conversation"?

Yes, "picked up the conversation" is the past tense form and is grammatically correct when referring to a conversation that was resumed in the past. Example: "He picked up the conversation as if nothing had happened."