pick up money=gather

Question

HiIs it OK to say :  I need to pick up some money before I go there. By "pick up" I mean "gather".

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

NewguestIs it OK to say : I need to pick up some money before I go there.

Yes. In fact, I don't see why you would say that you needed to gather money before you went somewhere.
You gather things that are located or scattered about in different places so that they will all be in the same place.
If you intend to withdraw money from an ATM before going, you can say pick up some money or get some money. You would not use gather some money for that activity.
CJ

Newguest · Answer

CalifJim
NewguestIs it OK to say : I need to pick up some money before I go there.
Yes. In fact, I don't see why you would say that you needed to gather money before you went somewhere.

You gather things that are located or scattered about in different places so that they will all be in the same place.

If you intend to withdraw money from an ATM before going, you can say pick up some money or get some money. You would not use gather some money for that activity.

CJ

Hi

But I was thinking of gathering money for a longer period of time. So, is "pick up" correct in such a context?

thanks

CalifJim · Answer

NewguestBut I was thinking of gathering money for a longer period of time. So, is "pick up" correct in such a context?

No. Neither "pick up" nor "gather" is correct, if I understand you correctly. I think you're trying to say "save".
I need to save some money before I can go there.
You are going to set aside some money from each paycheck, for example, until you have enough money to do what you want to do. Is that the situation you are trying to describe?
_______
If you had small amounts of money in different rooms of your apartment or home, for example, then you could say that you are going to gather some money. You would find the money in all the different places you had put it and bring it all together in one place. That would be gathering the money.
CJ

Newguest · Answer

CalifJim
NewguestBut I was thinking of gathering money for a longer period of time. So, is "pick up" correct in such a context?
No. Neither "pick up" nor "gather" is correct, if I understand you correctly. I think you're trying to say "save".

I need to save some money before I can go there.

You are going to set aside some money from each paycheck, for example, until you have enough money to do what you want to do. Is that the situation you are trying to describe?

_______

Yes exactly. Thanks.

New2grammar · Answer

CJ, wouldn't you say 'save up' in that context? Is there any difference with and without the preposition up?
Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

New2grammarCJ, wouldn't you say 'save up' in that context?

That's also possible, yes.

New2grammarIs there any difference with and without the preposition up?

Not really. Not to my ear. I suppose with "up" there is slightly more emphasis on having finished the entire savings project, but the difference is practically non-existent.
CJ

New2grammar · Answer

Thanks, CJ.

pick up money=gather

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