pick up dinner

USAGE SUMMARY

'pick up dinner' is a correct and usable phrase in written English, often used when someone is asking someone else to go out and get food.
Example: "Can you pick up dinner on your way home? I don't have time to cook tonight."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

You pick up dinner from a shop while on your way home, and spot a 'healthy' label and so think you're doing good.

Independent

"She only knows how to pick up dinner".

The New York Times - Style

She was about to pick up dinner when the phone rang.

The New York Times - Magazine

Toward dusk, Mr. Ashbrook jumped up to go pick up dinner from a Thai restaurant.

The New York Times

Evidently, ravens and coyotes had discovered that the spot was an easy place to pick up dinner.

The New Yorker

Afterward, she would prop her partner up in bed with her legs elevated, rent videos and pick up dinner.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

She often stops at Union Square or picks up dinner ingredients at Fairway.

The New York Times

He drives the 70 miles southwest to his home town and, not infrequently, picks up dinner for his family at the drive-through window of the Italian House.

The Washington Post

Picking up dinner at a McDonald's drive-through on their way "got us an entire dinner for the price of a single popcorn at the regular theaters," she said.

The New York Times

Picking up dinner?

Huffington Post

They will be unable to pick-up dinner at our local restaurants, buy gas at our local gas stations, or buy last minute gifts at South Coast Plaza.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pick up dinner" when you want to convey the action of obtaining a meal from a restaurant or store to be eaten elsewhere. It is suitable for both casual and slightly formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "pick up dinner" when you actually mean dining at the restaurant. "Pick up dinner" implies taking the food away, while "dine in" means eating at the establishment.

Linguistic Context

Pick up dinner functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of obtaining a meal, typically pre-prepared, from an establishment for consumption elsewhere. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pick up dinner" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe obtaining a meal from a restaurant or store to be eaten elsewhere. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a standard expression suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in News & Media. Alternatives include "get takeout" or "order takeaway". When writing, remember that it implies taking the food away, not dining in. The phrase's frequency and consistent usage across authoritative sources, such as The New York Times and Forbes, confirm its place in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get takeout

Focuses on the action of obtaining prepared food for consumption elsewhere.

grab a bite to eat

Emphasizes a quick and informal meal.

order takeaway

Highlights the act of placing an order for food to be taken away.

fetch some food

Implies going to get food from a specific location.

purchase ready-made meals

Stresses buying meals that are already prepared.

acquire pre-cooked food

Focuses on obtaining food that has already been cooked.

collect food to go

Highlights the act of collecting food that is meant to be eaten elsewhere.

buy prepared food

Emphasizes the purchase of food that is already prepared.

secure a meal for takeout

Suggests obtaining food with the intention of taking it away.

arrange for carryout

Implies making arrangements for food to be carried out.

FAQs

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

You can use "pick up dinner" in a sentence like, "I'll "pick up dinner" on my way home from work" or "She asked him to "pick up dinner" from the new Italian restaurant".

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

You can use alternatives like "get takeout", "grab a bite to eat", or "order takeaway" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "picked up dinner"?

Yes, "picked up dinner" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. For example: "I "picked up dinner" after the movie".

What's the difference between "pick up dinner" and "make dinner"?

"Pick up dinner" means to obtain a ready-made meal from a restaurant or store, while "make dinner" refers to preparing a meal at home.