pick up on (something)
pick up on (something)
To detect or notice something; to become alert to or aware of something. There are a lot of mature jokes in this cartoon that I never picked up on as a kid. Did you pick up on the hostility between Jen and Tom? The cops picked up on his suspicious behavior right away.
See also: on, pick, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
pick up on something
to become alert to something; to take notice of something; to learn or catch on to something. She's real sharp. She picks up on everything. The cop picked up on the car with the expired license plates.
See also: on, pick, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
pick up on
Become aware of, notice, as in The teacher picked up on her nervousness right away. [Colloquial; mid-1900s]
See also: on, pick, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
pick up on something
in. to become alert to something; to take notice of something; to learn or catch on to something. She’s real sharp. She picks up on everything.
See also: on, pick, something, up
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
pick up on
Informal1. To take into the mind and understand, typically with speed: is quick to pick up on new computer skills.
2. To notice: picked up on my roommate's bad mood and left him alone.
See also: on, pick, up
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- (mother) nature's (something)
- a slew of (something)
- a slue of (something)
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- a crack at (someone or something)
- all right
- (you) wanna make something of it?
- all for the best