| 100% | SCAMALERT | 9 | "Don't pick up this call! It's a swindler!" |
| 52% | TAKEOUT | 7 | Picking up food from a restaurant is called this |
| 46% | NOPRESSURE | 10 | "There's a lot riding on this, but hey, don't worry about it!" |
| 46% | DAYJOB | 6 | Don't give up this to make a hobby into business |
| 46% | FOOD | 4 | It's picked up in a mess |
| 45% | SCENT | 5 | It’s picked up by a hound |
| 43% | READTHEROOM | 11 | Pick up on what people are thinking... or a hint to this puzzle's starred entries |
| 42% | LOOKINSIDE | 10 | "Open it up!"...and a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 42% | RUNONSENTENCE | 13 | This is a grammar slip don't use it |
| 42% | TRAP | 4 | "It's a ___, don't fall for it" |
| 41% | DODGES | 6 | Avoids picking up, as a phone call |
| 41% | TAB | 3 | A treater picks it up |
| 41% | DECAF | 5 | It's not exactly a pick-me-up |
| 41% | ODOR | 4 | A hound may pick it up |
| 41% | TEMPO | 5 | A musician might pick it up |
| 41% | TEMPO | 5 | A conductor might pick it up |
| 40% | HELLO | 5 | First word said after picking up a call, generally |
| 40% | RADAR | 5 | It picks up things with a dish |
| 40% | POWERAMP | 8 | It picks up signals from a pickup |
| 40% | SWEARJAR | 8 | It's for those who don't give a darn |
| 39% | PACE | 4 | A slowpoke may be asked to pick it up |
| 39% | PACE | 4 | A cadet might be asked to pick it up |
| 39% | PACE | 4 | A sergeant might ask soldiers to pick it up |
| 39% | DOGCATCHERSTRUCK | 16 | It might pick up a few pointers |
| 39% | SONAR | 5 | It might pick up a big fish |
| 39% | HOTMIC | 6 | It might pick up a passing comment |
| 39% | HOTMIC | 6 | It might pick up a whispered comment |
| 39% | PACE | 4 | A sergeant might ask a soldier to pick it up |
| 38% | TAB | 3 | You might pick it up at a bar |
| 38% | THETAB | 6 | You can pick it up in a restaurant |