The word "drop" has a wide range of meanings, generally revolving around the idea of something falling, decreasing, ceasing, or being left behind. As a verb, it can mean to let something fall, to decrease in amount, to stop doing something, or to remove someone or something. As a noun, it can refer to a small amount of liquid, a decrease in quantity, or the act of dropping something.
The meaning can be compositional (e.g., to drop a ball) or semi-idiomatic (e.g., to drop out of school).
The register is generally neutral, though some usages can be informal (e.g., "drop by") or formal (e.g., "a drop in GDP").
"Drop" can be used in several grammatical patterns:
Typical objects and complements depend on the specific meaning. For phrasal verbs, the particle usually follows the verb directly, but in some cases, the object can be placed between the verb and the particle (e.g., drop the show).
It sounds unnatural to use the wrong preposition (e.g., "drop in of" instead of "drop in"), to use the wrong verb when a specific phrasal verb is required (e.g., "fall out of school" instead of "drop out of school"), or to use a formal register in a casual setting.
"The leadership of a university has encouraged an endeavor in which students drop out in order to do something that will enrich the faculty." — The Economist
"We have spoken about it, he is a massive England fan and, if needed, would drop everything at the drop of a hat to come and join us." — The Guardian - Sport
"BBC1 was marginally down on the 4.1 million viewers who turned in five years ago, with ITV suffering a more precipitous drop from 1.3 million last time round." — The Guardian
"Related: Republicans drop abortion vote after revolt by female House members Supporters of the bill had hoped it would be passed on Thursday to coincide with the March for Life, a huge anti-abortion gathering held on the Mall each year to mark the anniversary of the supreme court's 1973 ruling to legalise abortion, Roe v Wade." — The Guardian
"Not a drop of blood is seen on the screen." — The Guardian - Film
Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/drop
| Phrase | Context |
|---|---|
| decrease | More formal and general term for a reduction. |
| decline | Similar to decrease, often used for abstract concepts like influence. |
| fall | A more general term for downward movement; can be literal or figurative. |
| abandon | Implies a more deliberate and complete cessation of something. |
| withdraw | Suggests removing oneself or something from a situation. |
| eliminate | Means to completely remove something, often something unwanted. |
| cancel | To decide that an event will not take place. |
Learners often struggle with using the correct preposition in phrasal verbs with "drop", or confuse the different meanings of "drop" when used in various collocations.
| Expression | Meaning | Grammatical Pattern | Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| drop | To let fall, decrease, stop, or remove | Verb, Noun, Phrasal Verb | Neutral to Informal |
It depends on the specific phrasal verb. Some, like "drop off" (meaning to deliver something), can be separated (e.g., "drop the package off"), while others must stay together (e.g., you can't separate "drop out"). Always check a dictionary or reliable source to confirm separability.
While both "drop" and "fall" can describe downward movement, "drop" often implies a deliberate action or a sudden release. "Fall," on the other hand, is a more general term and doesn't necessarily imply intent (e.g., "The leaves fall from the trees").
One common mistake is using the wrong preposition in phrasal verbs. For example, saying "drop at" instead of "drop by" is incorrect. To avoid this, carefully memorize the correct preposition for each phrasal verb and practice using them in context. Checking a dictionary is always a good idea!
Tools