pick up the effort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pick up the effort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when encouraging someone to increase their level of effort or commitment towards a task or goal. Example: "If we want to meet the deadline, we need to pick up the effort and work together more efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Pick up the effort.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. picked up the effort on Tuesday, using a lunchtime toast at the State Department with China's vice president, Xi Jinping, to further raise the intellectual property protection issue — giving his boss the perfect entrée to say at Mr. Ferrell's fund-raiser that the White House is fighting hard for Hollywood.

The New York Times

On his appointment, Miliband told Livermore explicitly that he did not intend to reshape his political project – but Livermore privately hoped that his new role signalled a willingness by Miliband to change course and "pick up the pace" of the campaign's efforts to appeal to voters.

The Guardian

With the election of President Dilma Rousseff, Brazil decided to pick up the pace in its effort to become a global power.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unless government agencies and private organizations pick up the pace of recovery efforts, New Orleans may see its future pack up and go with them.

The New York Times

And as those developers apprehend more of the consequences of environmental negligence, they hope that other courses pick up the pace of ecological efforts and keep the game from being left in the dust.

Forbes

"That is why we are going to pick up the pace of our transformation efforts".

The Guardian

Celebrated punk poet John Cooper Clarke floundered in his effort to pick up the pace, while livelier offerings came from The Greatest Show on Legs, avant-garde Japanese outfit Frank Chickens and Chris Lynam, who ended the show with his trademark firework-up-the-bum gag.

Independent

In an effort to pick up the pace of reconstruction in Iraq, representatives of more than 300 international companies and nearly 300 Iraqi businessmen are attending a three-day conference, Outreach 2004, here to explore possible partnerships.

The New York Times

That registration was effectively revoked earlier this week, grain and food companies are hoping but it can be used to force Aventis to pick up the ultimate cost of the current effort.

The New York Times

In a brilliant dramatic stroke, Perry — who analyzes the action in real time through a trenchant voice-over spoken by Eric Bogosian — turns his attention to Ashley and her efforts to pick up the pieces after the sudden, agonized breakup, and then to Ike, whose own intimate life is in shambles after decades of obsessive literary devotion.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pick up the effort" when you want to encourage someone to increase their commitment and energy towards a specific task or goal. It's particularly useful when progress has stalled or needs a significant boost.

Common error

Avoid using "pick up the effort" when you actually mean "start the effort". "Pick up" implies a continuation or increase, not an initiation. For starting something new, use phrases like "launch an effort" or "begin the work".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pick up the effort" functions as an idiomatic expression used to encourage or instruct someone to increase their level of commitment or energy towards a task. Ludwig indicates that it is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pick up the effort" is a valid idiomatic phrase used to encourage increased commitment to a task. Although Ludwig confirms its correctness, it is relatively rare. It is primarily used in news and media contexts. Alternatives include "increase the effort" or "step up the effort". When using this phrase, ensure that you mean to convey a need for more effort, not the initiation of effort. The phrase is generally considered neutral in register and serves to motivate action and improve performance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increase the effort

Focuses on raising the level of exertion.

boost the effort

Emphasizes enhancing or strengthening the current endeavor.

step up the effort

Highlights the need to accelerate or intensify the work being done.

intensify the efforts

Stresses the need for a more concentrated and powerful approach.

redouble efforts

Implies renewing and increasing commitment to the task.

strengthen the effort

Suggests reinforcing and solidifying the current work.

accelerate the effort

Highlights the need for faster progress.

enhance the endeavor

Focuses on improving the quality and effectiveness of the work.

amplify the undertaking

Implies making the effort larger and more significant.

vigorously pursue

Implies pursuing a goal with energy.

FAQs

How can I use "pick up the effort" in a sentence?

You can use "pick up the effort" to encourage someone to increase their commitment or energy towards a task. For example, "If we want to finish on time, we need to pick up the effort."

What's a more formal way to say "pick up the effort"?

In a more formal context, you could say "increase the effort" or "intensify the "efforts"" to convey a similar meaning with greater formality.

When is it appropriate to use "pick up the effort"?

It's appropriate when you want to suggest that someone needs to put more energy or focus into a task, especially when progress has been slow or inadequate. For example, "After the initial setbacks, the team needed to pick up the effort to meet their goals."

What's the difference between "pick up the effort" and "increase the pace"?

"Pick up the effort" refers to increasing overall commitment and energy, while "increase the "pace"" specifically means doing something faster. You might "pick up the effort" by working longer hours or by improving your focus.