pickup

1. n. something eaten or drunk to boost energy; a pick-me-up.

□ Bartender, I need a little pickup.

□ She stopped at a candy machine for a pickup.

2. n. a sudden increase in something, such as speed or tempo in music.

□ We need a bit of a pickup at measure forty-three.

□ There will be a pickup in sales during the Christmas season.

3. mod. spontaneous; unplanned. (Especially with ball games where the members of the team are picked up from whoever is available. See also scratch.)

□ He stopped at the basketball court for a pickup game with the boys.

□ A pickup game can be fun if the sides are evenly matched.

4. n. an arrest. (Underworld.)

□ Send Sergeant Town-send out to make the pickup.

□ The cop made a pickup right across the street.

5. n. someone whose acquaintance is made solely for sexual purposes.

□ She’s no date. She’s just a pickup.

□ She had the gall to show up at the dance with a pickup in treet clothes.

6. n. the power of a car’s engine as reflected in the car’s ability to reach a high speed quickly.

□ This car has more pickup than I really need.

□ Little cars hardly ever have enough pickup.