Descolgar

Descolgar
 

This is a discussion thread for the Daily Spanish Word for November 30, 2008

descolgar - verb - to unhook, unhang, to take down, to pick up. Look up descolgar in the dictionary

Sonó el teléfono y con una mano temblorosa lo descolgó.
The phone rang, and his hand trembling, he picked it up.

can pick up also be quitar? like quitar la mesa? I know it won't work in here, though.

Yes, there are several other ways to translate to pick up into Spanish. I've included some of them below.

recoger = to pick up (things from off the ground, floor, etc.)
tomar = to pick up (take things from a table, for instance)
coger, agarrar = to pick up (things at the store, for instance)
aprender = to pick up (a language)
captar = to pick up (a signal)
adquirir = to pick up (a habit)
levantar = to pick up (a child, to lift)
mejorar = to pick up (improve, like the weather, or to get better in health)
repuntar = to pick up (economy or business)
reanimar = to pick up (revive)
recoger = to pick up (passengers)

Quitar la mesa can be translated to clear the table as well as to pick up the table.

Then I can to say this, I pick up my shoes of the floor, This does phrase is accurate?

Corrections:
Then i can say this: I pick my shoes off the floor. Is this phrase accurate?

yes - here's a bit of correction" I pick my shoes up because they're on the floor.
:)

why jessica used the word off? and everyone used the word up i´m confussed

Well I thought of it as this, like your mom telling you to do it:
"Jessica, take the shoes off the floor, because it will make it dirty!"

I didn't understand anything, Jessica Why do you weir the word Off in that phrase? please you could explain me that.

Your shoes are on the floor. Get them off (of) the floor.
The following sentences can be equally used (they mean the exact same thing as the two sentences above):

Pick up your shoes from the floor.
Pick up your shoes from off the floor.
Pick your shoes up from off the floor.
Pick your shoes up from the floor.

Then Jessica's answer is accurate.