Meaning trap

pick up

acquire illness or habit

To get an illness or habit, often by accident or without trying.

phrasal verbB2common

Don't mix these meanings

Same phrase, different job.

acquire illness or habit

To get an illness or habit, often by accident or without trying.

pick up (collect)

Another meaning of 'pick up' is 'collect'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

He picked up a cold during his trip to London.health
People can easily pick up bad habits if they spend time with the wrong crowd.IELTS speaking

Pattern: pick (something) up

WrongI picked up a new language to boost my career.

RightI learned a new language to boost my career.

This sense is accidental and negative. Deliberate, goal-driven gain is 'learn', not this 'pick up'.

Patternpick (something) up

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff I contracted a cold during the flight.

Natural I picked up a cold on the flight.

'Contracted' is medical/formal. In everyday speech natives 'pick up' colds, bugs and habits — by chance, usually unwanted.

Words that usually travel with it.

Not about collecting objects or learning skills.

pick up (collect) — Another meaning of 'pick up' is 'collect'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.