picking things up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "picking things up" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the act of learning or understanding something quickly, or to refer to physically collecting items. Example: "After a few weeks, she was really picking things up in her new job." Alternative expressions include "grasping concepts" and "collecting items."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Picking things up becomes more challenging.

The Guardian - Sport

And picking things up off the ground.

The Guardian - Tech

It's about picking things up much earlier," she says.

The Guardian

Suddenly, it seemed, trucks were always coming and going, picking things up or dropping them off.

The New York Times - Magazine

For example, puppets usually don't have moving fingers, so picking things up can be tricky.

The Guardian

On Day 4, Wilkens said Johnson was picking things up quickly.

The New York Times - Sports

"You can make dramatic changes every year by picking things up and moving them.

The New York Times

They were just casually walking around and picking things up," she said.

The Guardian

We added a few new actions today and guys seemed to be picking things up well".

The Guardian - Sport

We started in one place and had to move and go to other places, picking things up along the way".

The New York Times - Arts

If a rookie is slow in picking things up, he will not have an exhibition season to settle in.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal technical writing, replace the vague word "things" with specific nouns like "data points", "skills" or "objects" to enhance precision.

Common error

When describing job performance, avoid saying you are good at "picking things up" without a modifier. It can be unclear whether you mean you are a fast learner or that you are literally good at manual labor. Specify with phrases like "picking up new software" or "grasping complex workflows".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picking things up" functions as a gerund phrase or phrasal verb construction. According to Ludwig, it is frequently used as the subject of a sentence or as the object of a preposition. It combines the verb "pick" with the particle "up", creating a phrasal verb that denotes either physical retrieval or mental acquisition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "picking things up" is a robust and essential part of the English lexicon, characterized by its remarkable ability to bridge the gap between physical actions and cognitive achievements. Whether you are discussing a toddler's development, a professional's ability to learn new software or a robot's mechanical precision, this phrase provides a clear and natural way to communicate progress. Ludwig AI indicates that while it is widely accepted in Neutral and News contexts, writers should consider more specific alternatives like "acquiring knowledge" in highly formal or academic settings to avoid the vagueness of the word "things". Overall, it remains a high-frequency, grammatically sound choice for describing detection, collection and learning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

grasping concepts

Focuses specifically on the cognitive aspect of understanding complex ideas

collecting items

Specifies the physical act of gathering objects from various places

acquiring skills

Used in professional or educational contexts to describe learning new abilities

gathering materials

Implies a more organized or purposeful collection of physical resources

retrieving objects

A more technical or formal way to describe getting items, often used in robotics

learning the ropes

An idiomatic expression specifically for understanding how a new job or task works

absorbing information

Emphasizes the passive or natural process of learning through exposure

lifting items

Focuses strictly on the vertical movement of objects from a surface

mastering tasks

Goes beyond just learning and implies reaching a high level of proficiency

tidying up

Refers to picking things up specifically for the purpose of organization or cleaning

FAQs

What can I say instead of "picking things up" when talking about learning?

Depending on the speed and depth of learning, you can use alternatives like "grasping concepts", "learning quickly" or "absorbing new information".

Is "picking things up" formal enough for a resume?

While it is grammatically correct, it is often seen as neutral to informal. For a more professional tone, consider using "acquiring new competencies" or "mastering technical skills".

How do you use "picking things up" in a sentence about physical objects?

You can use it to describe manual tasks, such as: "The robot was designed for "picking things up off the floor" efficiently".

What is the difference between "picking things up" and "gathering items"?

"Picking things up" usually implies a single action or a reaction to a mess, whereas "gathering items" suggests a more deliberate process of bringing things together for a specific purpose.