3 ways to use 'pick up' - English In A Minute

Hi, this is Kee from BBC Learning English.

Today I'm going to tell you three different

ways of using the phrasal verb 'pick up'.

First, we use 'pick up' to describe learning something.

So, for example, I can say:

Children pick up languages very quickly.

And so can you at BBC Learning English!

Second, we use 'pick up' informally

to describe buying something.

For example:

I often pick up some milk on my way home.

Third, we use 'pick up' to describe getting an illness.

I think I picked up a cold.

So, we can pick up languages,

pick up some milk and pick up a cold.