pick it up
B1 informal transitive
In simple words
To go faster or try harder — used as an encouragement or instruction.
Literal meaning: To physically lift something from the ground.
Meanings
1 B1
idiomatic
informal
Used as a command or encouragement to go faster or put in more effort.
"Come on, everyone, pick it up! We only have two kilometres left!"
2 A2 neutral
To lift a physical object from the ground or a surface.
"You dropped your pen — can you pick it up, please?"
Usage notes
Often used as a standalone command in exercise classes, sports coaching, and informal work contexts. It is the pronoun-embedded form of 'pick up' (meaning to increase speed or effort). Also can refer literally to picking up a physical object, but the motivational sense is more notable as a fixed expression. Common in American and British English.
Commonly used with
pace speed effort game performance
Forms
Base
pick it up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
picks it up
he/she/it
Past simple
picked it up
yesterday
Past participle
picked it up
have + pp
-ing form
picking it up
continuous
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Synonyms
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