pick-me-up
/'pikmi:ʌp/
Definition
- Noun:
- A tonic or restorative, especially an alcoholic drink: A "pick-me-up" is something, typically a beverage, that provides a quick boost of energy or improves one's mood, often used when feeling tired or low.
- Anything with restorative powers: More broadly, it can refer to any substance, activity, or experience that revitalizes or cheers someone up.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
Advanced Usage
- Used figuratively for non-physical boosts: While often a drink, "pick-me-up" is commonly used for anything that provides emotional or mental refreshment.
- Implies a quick, temporary effect: The term suggests a remedy for a temporary state of fatigue or low spirits, not a long-term solution.
Variants and Related Words
- Pick up (phrasal verb): To improve or increase (e.g., ). Note: This is the verbal form from which the noun is derived.
- Tonic: A medicine or drink to invigorate.
- Restorative: Something that restores health or strength.
Synonyms
- Boost: An increase or improvement.
- Reviver: Something that revives a person.
- Stimulant: An agent that temporarily increases activity.
Related Phrases
- A little pick-me-up: Often used to modestly refer to the restorative item, especially if it's an alcoholic drink.
Related Idioms
- A shot in the arm: Something that boosts morale or energy (similar in figurative use).
Noun
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a tonic or restorative (especially a drink of liquor)
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anything with restorative powers
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she needed the pickup that coffee always gave her
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