{"id":6708,"date":"2018-07-12T12:45:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T16:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=6708"},"modified":"2021-04-11T14:28:32","modified_gmt":"2021-04-11T18:28:32","slug":"up-and-out-on-a-date-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/up-and-out-on-a-date-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Up and Out on a Date in English"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo courtesy of Pixabay, CCO<\/p><\/div>\n

As regular readers of this blog know, the English language is full of confusing expressions and terminology which make life difficult for learners. Even native speakers can be excused for shaking their heads in bewilderment sometimes during a simple conversation. I heard a brief exchange between two people the other day which made me wonder what someone learning the language would make of it.<\/p>\n

Myles: \u201cYou want to go out tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tori: \u201cSure! Pick me up in your pickup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s begin with the first sentence, which is technically not a complete sentence. Formally, Myles should have said: \u201cDo<\/u> you want to go out tonight?\u201d In casual conversation, however, the do<\/em> is inferred. Also, going out<\/strong> is colloquial for some form of activity, like a date, and not necessarily to be taken literally. In proper English, then, the question could have been stated, \u201cWould you like to do something with me tonight?\u201d Or some other awkward phrasing.<\/p>\n

The response is even more head-scratching. Pick me up<\/em><\/strong> means to drive wherever the speaker is going to be and the speaker will accompany the driver in their vehicle. And, a pickup<\/em><\/strong> is a kind of truck. It gets the name from all the things that you can pick up and put in it. So, formally, Tori could have replied, \u201cSure! Please drive to my house in your truck and I will accompany you.\u201d Or some similar awkward phrasing.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s imagine how that conversation continues, shall we?<\/p>\n

Tori: \u201cWe could pick up some take-out.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this case, to pick up<\/em><\/strong> is to purchase something. Specifically, they will purchase some food at a restaurant that will be packaged for them to eat off premises (the take-out<\/em><\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Myles: \u201cLet\u2019s get some coffee, too. I could use a pick-me-up after my long day.\u201d<\/p>\n

In English, a pick-me-up<\/em><\/strong> is something that gives you a little energy or makes you feel better. It could be a drink, some chocolate, or even just a kind word or praise. Oh, and days are just as long in English as they are in any language. If Myles has had a long day, it means that he had some difficulty during the day.<\/p>\n

Tori: \u201cThis is the second time this week we\u2019ve gone out. People will think we\u2019re going out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myles: \u201cAren\u2019t we going out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tori: \u201cI guess so. I hadn\u2019t picked up on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, I\u2019m messing with you. If a couple goes out somewhere together they may or may not consider that they are dating. Going out<\/em><\/strong> is a colloquialism for dating. To pick up on<\/em><\/strong> something means to learn, realize, or understand something. Therefore, Myles and Tori are dating, but Tori didn\u2019t realize that Myles viewed them as a dating couple.<\/p>\n

Myles: \u201cReally? I guess I was going out on a limb, assuming that you felt the same as I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

To go out on a limb<\/em><\/strong> is to be placed in a precarious or vulnerable position. In this case, Myles took a chance that Tori had feelings for him that went beyond friendship.<\/p>\n

Tori: \u201cOh, I do! I think you\u2019re a great catch. I just don\u2019t know why you picked me.\u201d<\/p>\n

A great catch<\/em><\/strong> is a sports-related idiom. It could refer to a great play made in baseball or football, or it may refer to a fisherman reeling in a spectacular fish. In any case, Tori thinks that Myles is pretty special. She also seems to think that he picked<\/em><\/strong> her, or singled her out as someone he wanted to date.<\/p>\n

Myles: \u201cI thought we kind of picked each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Myles. That was the right thing to say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

As regular readers of this blog know, the English language is full of confusing expressions and terminology which make life difficult for learners. Even native speakers can be excused for shaking their heads in bewilderment sometimes during a simple conversation. I heard a brief exchange between two people the other day which made me wonder…<\/p>\n

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