pickup line
noun
US
: a prepared remark used by a person to start a conversation with a stranger they are interested in having a romantic relationship with
He tried using one of his clever pickup lines on her, but it didn't work.
Examples of pickup line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lately, though, that cultural pessimism seems to have come closer to home: fear of neighbors with a different flag in their apartment windows, anger at other parents in the school pickup line with the wrong stickers on their bumpers, even disdain for close relatives at the Thanksgiving table.
—
Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
Porter, meanwhile, told me that California buses a smaller fraction of public school students than any other state, and that more buses could reduce air pollution from idling cars at school pickup lines.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Forty-three years later, that pickup line served as the slogan printed on T-shirts sold at Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory in Folsom Historic District.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 8 Feb. 2024
The proliferating pickup lines seem to be driven more by necessity than choice.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
This includes a set of lashes for the pickup line—today, at least.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
Apparently, Donna was meant to go on a date with another guy when Ed saw her, hit her with a not-so-cool-yet-charming pickup line, scooped her and the rest was history.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
And, instead of waiting for the trams at said airport, opt to walk to the Uber or Lyft pickup lines.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 16 June 2023
An Oklahoma father made his 8-year-old son’s last day of school extra memorable by skipping the usual station-wagon pickup line and showing up on horseback instead.
—Laura Barcella, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023
Casey Cep, The New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2024
Porter, meanwhile, told me that California buses a smaller fraction of public school students than any other state, and that more buses could reduce air pollution from idling cars at school pickup lines.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024
Forty-three years later, that pickup line served as the slogan printed on T-shirts sold at Snooks Candies and Chocolate Factory in Folsom Historic District.
—Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 8 Feb. 2024
The proliferating pickup lines seem to be driven more by necessity than choice.
—Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
This includes a set of lashes for the pickup line—today, at least.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
Apparently, Donna was meant to go on a date with another guy when Ed saw her, hit her with a not-so-cool-yet-charming pickup line, scooped her and the rest was history.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 5 Oct. 2023
And, instead of waiting for the trams at said airport, opt to walk to the Uber or Lyft pickup lines.
—Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 16 June 2023
An Oklahoma father made his 8-year-old son’s last day of school extra memorable by skipping the usual station-wagon pickup line and showing up on horseback instead.
—Laura Barcella, Peoplemag, 24 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickup line.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pickup line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickup%20line. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
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