0

I have a question about "pick up" here:

My voice startled me with its sudden loudness. I must have picked up the whispering unconsciously from my visitor.

Does "picked up the whispering" mean something closer to "pick up information" or "pick up a chant"?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

"Picked up" in this instance means "acquired".

The character is suggesting that they, unconsciously, started whispering in response to their visitor's behaviour.

Improve this answer
2
  • So, the example is closer to "pick up the chant".
    – meatie
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 21:07
  • I don't know that phrase. I think a more common example would be to use "pick up" some disease. "I picked up a cold by staying out too long". There's a certain element of the acquisition being unintentional.
    – Dancrumb
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 22:07
-1

In this case "picked up" means something like "noticed"

Improve this answer
2
  • 2
    Not true, in this case. Given the limited context, it may have been hard to discern, but if you open OP's link you'll see that Dancrumb's analysis is correct.
    – nmar
    Commented Oct 15, 2014 at 20:12
  • I agree with @nmar , your definition fails to highlight the accidental emphasis on the acquisition of the whispers in the first place.
    – Tushar
    Commented Oct 16, 2014 at 9:51

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .