pick up after (someone)
idiom
: to clean the mess created by (someone)
You have to pick up after yourself if you make a mess.
His mother still picks up after him.
Examples of pick up after (someone) in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Driftwood Beach is also dog-friendly, but be sure to pick up after your animals and take all of your trash with you.
—
Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
The losses that taxpayers were forced to pick up after 2008 are very easy to see.
—Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will serve as a direct continuation, and pick up after the events of Big Bang’s 2019 series finale.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 12 June 2025
The plot for Stranger Things Season 5 remains tightly under wraps, but the next chapter will pick up after the explosive Season 4, Part 2 finale, where the Hawkins crew tried to take down Vecna for good.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up after (someone)
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 27 June 2025
The losses that taxpayers were forced to pick up after 2008 are very easy to see.
—Norbert Michel, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will serve as a direct continuation, and pick up after the events of Big Bang’s 2019 series finale.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 12 June 2025
The plot for Stranger Things Season 5 remains tightly under wraps, but the next chapter will pick up after the explosive Season 4, Part 2 finale, where the Hawkins crew tried to take down Vecna for good.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick up after (someone)
Cite this Entry
“Pick up after (someone).” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20up%20after%20%28someone%29. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share