Without a word to me, he picked up the receiver.
He picked up the receiver and did not speak for quite a while.
For some reason, she looked at her watch, and then went into the living room to pick up the receiver.
He had to will himself to pick up the receiver.
Finally he heard someone pick up the receiver on the other end.
Still, she couldn't bring herself to pick up the receiver.
He went to the phone and picked up the receiver.
She turned away from him and picked up the receiver.
"We called the police, and they would not even pick up the receiver."
She would have picked up the receiver if she'd been able to think of anyone who could help.