collect (something) from (someone)
1. To solicit or gather something, often money, from someone. There's a boy at the entrance collecting money from people for charity. They're doing a food drive at work, and they want to collect canned food from us. Everybody, take a seat, and Tam will go around and collect your dues.
2. To obtain a biological specimen from someone, as for medical testing. We'll need to collect a urine sample from you. A: "Ma'am, we need to collect some blood from you." B: "Oh, please, no. I'm terrified of needles!" You want me to collect a stool sample from a four-year-old? Great.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
collect something from someone
1. to gather up something from someone; to gather money from someone. I'm here to collect used clothing from you. She is out collecting donations from the neighbors.
2. to take a medical specimen from a person. I am here to collect a urine specimen from the patient. The phlebotomist collected the specimen from Todd and left the room.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.