drop everything

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop everything" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone should stop what they are doing and prioritize something more urgent or important. Example: "When I received the emergency call, I had to drop everything and rush to the hospital."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Drop everything.

The New Yorker

I'd drop everything for him".

The New York Times

"We don't just drop everything.

The New York Times

Shouldn't we drop everything and help?

The New York Times

"Drop everything, cross that river, help your brothers".

The New York Times

Did God drop everything else to smile on that batter?

The New York Times

He told them to drop everything to make music.

The New York Times - Arts

"Can someone drop everything and start writing apps?

The New York Times

Straw saw her drop everything to sort that out.

The Guardian

Brewers will drop everything when they get the call.

The New York Times - Food

But you don't have to drag and drop everything.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drop everything" when you want to convey a sense of urgency and importance, indicating that the action being requested should take precedence over all other ongoing tasks.

Common error

Avoid using "drop everything" too frequently, as it can dilute its impact and create a false sense of constant emergency. Reserve it for truly critical situations to maintain its effectiveness.

Linguistic Context

The idiomatic phrase "drop everything" functions as an imperative, urging immediate cessation of ongoing activities. This is confirmed by Ludwig's examples, where the phrase is used to command or strongly suggest a shift in focus.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the idiomatic phrase "drop everything" is a frequently used imperative to emphasize immediate cessation of current activities for a prioritized task, as validated by Ludwig. Predominantly found in news and media, it carries a neutral to informal tone. While grammatically correct, overuse should be avoided to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "stop everything" or "set everything aside" can be used depending on context. According to Ludwig AI analysis, this phrase is widely understood and accepted in various forms of communication, making it a valuable tool for conveying urgency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop everything

A direct synonym focusing on ceasing current activities.

halt everything

Implies a more abrupt and forceful cessation.

set everything aside

Emphasizes putting current tasks to the side temporarily.

discontinue everything

More formal and suggests a temporary or permanent stop.

put everything on hold

Focuses on pausing activities rather than completely stopping.

suspend all tasks

Formal and implies a planned or temporary pause.

cease all activities

A formal way of expressing a complete stop to ongoing work.

interrupt everything

Highlights the act of breaking into current tasks.

abandon everything

Suggests leaving current tasks behind, often with a negative connotation.

reprioritize immediately

Shifts the focus to emphasizing the need for immediate change in priorities.

FAQs

How to use "drop everything" in a sentence?

You can use "drop everything" to emphasize the urgency of a situation. For example: "When the fire alarm rang, we had to "drop everything" and evacuate the building."

What can I say instead of "drop everything"?

You can use alternatives like "stop everything", "halt everything", or "set everything aside" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "drop everything" in formal writing?

While "drop everything" is widely understood, it's generally more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "suspend all tasks" or "reprioritize immediately".

What's the difference between "drop everything" and "put everything on hold"?

"Drop everything" implies stopping current activities immediately, while "put everything on hold" suggests pausing activities temporarily, with the intention of resuming them later.