pick up fast

USAGE SUMMARY

"pick up fast" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about an increase in speed, or when asking someone to hurry up. For example: "We need to pick up fast if we want to catch the next bus."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But rising rates could keep the bond business in a lurch, and if equity underwriting and M&A don't pick up fast, Goldman and its counterparts could face a first-quarter shortfall.

Forbes

So many people find it easy to just go pick up fast food not only going to restaurants.

Vice

Eat amongst the Russian elite or pick up fast food before continuing your shopping trip.

WikiHow

Plan meals ahead; it will make you less likely to pick up fast food and it means you can tailor your shopping list to fit.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The Fed has said it wants to keep rates low until 2015, though it could let them rise sooner if the economy picks up faster than expected.

The New York Times

There are teachers in the state, Campbell told me from the capitol, who "pick up fast-food shifts on the weekends".

The New Yorker

"If the risks that I'm focusing on to our last forecasts come through, I think there is a chance that inflation will pick up faster than people had been expecting in the medium term, which then would most likely merit an increase in interest rates sooner than people are currently expecting," Forbes told the Wall Street Journal.

The Guardian - Business

So far, Fujitsu has invested tens of millions of dollars in WiMax technology, and Hintze believes that WiMax will likely pick up faster in Europe and Asia than in the U.S. Still, the company wants to benefit from the growth in North America and has already deployed one small WiMax network in Rhode Island, used by local businesses, with the wireless CLEC TowerStream.

Forbes

Basset hounds usually don't learn much from negative training, but if you praise yours for doing right (especially with treats), they should pick up faster on what they need to be doing.

WikiHow

We do all these things to ensure that new ideas can be picked up fast by everyone in the studio.

The Guardian

Doubleday Direct's total enrolment through traditional means is still falling it is now down to around 80% of 1998 levels but online recruitment is picking up fast.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pick up fast" to describe a process or skill that is learned or acquired quickly. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being accelerated or learned.

Common error

Avoid using "pick up fast" when you mean to say something is easily lifted or obtained. "Pick up fast" is generally used to describe momentum or learning speed, not physical objects. Use alternatives like "grab quickly" or "get quickly" for objects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pick up fast" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, modifying a verb to describe the manner in which an action is performed. Ludwig's examples show it modifying actions like learning, sales, or economic growth.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

30%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pick up fast" is a phrasal verb describing rapid acceleration or quick learning. While grammatically correct, its usage frequency is rare. Ludwig AI confirms it is usable in written English, particularly in news and general contexts. When more formality is needed, consider alternatives like "increase rapidly". It's essential to use it in contexts where speed or efficiency is being highlighted. The most common error is to confuse with "pick up faster", used for comparisons, or physical objects being picked up.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accelerate quickly

Focuses on speeding up with an emphasis on rapid acceleration.

learn rapidly

Emphasizes quick acquisition of knowledge or skill.

increase rapidly

Focuses on a fast increase in amount or intensity.

progress quickly

Emphasizes fast advancement or improvement.

improve rapidly

Indicates a fast betterment or enhancement.

gain momentum swiftly

Highlights a rapid increase in force or speed.

develop swiftly

Indicates a quick progression or evolution.

catch on quickly

Informal way of saying someone understands something fast.

escalate fast

Highlights a rapid increase in intensity or severity.

recover swiftly

Focuses on a quick return to a normal state.

FAQs

How can I use "pick up fast" in a sentence?

You can use "pick up fast" to describe something that is increasing in speed or intensity, or someone learning something quickly. For example: "Sales are expected to "pick up fast" during the holiday season."

What's a more formal alternative to "pick up fast"?

While "pick up fast" is acceptable, consider using "accelerate rapidly" or "increase swiftly" for a more formal tone. For example, you might say "The economy is expected to "increase swiftly"" in a business report.

Is it correct to say "pick up faster" instead of "pick up fast"?

Yes, both are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different meanings. "Pick up faster" is used to compare the rate of increase with something else (e.g., "This car "picks up faster" than that one"), while "pick up fast" describes a general rapid increase.

What does "pick up fast" mean in the context of learning?

In the context of learning, "pick up fast" means to learn or understand something quickly and easily. You might say, "She "picked up the language fast"" meaning she learned it quickly.