drop heavily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop heavily" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means to fall or descend with great force or weight. Example: The raindrops began to drop heavily, drenching everything in their path.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Although The Road Chip will drop heavily now that kids are back at school, it should overtake third picture Chipwrecked's final tally of £15.67m.

The Guardian - Film

The reliability of these landmarks is acceptable with the BIOGIGA images but would drop heavily in real-word images.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

My legs drop heavily onto the ground to rest for a second.

Huffington Post

Prices go up as the date of departure gets nearer, although days and hours before departure they may drop heavily again as a seat is worthless after the plane is airborne.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Argentina defaulted and its currency dropped heavily.

The New York Times

The woman dropped heavily onto a bench and leaned forward on her stick.

The New Yorker

Network entertainment advertising rates for the shows have been dropping heavily from their high of $50,000 a spot 10 years ago.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Brexit is likely to see supermarkets dump Irish beef in favour of meat from Brazil or Argentina, with steak prices possibly dropping heavily, according to some industry sources.

The Guardian - Money

The big faller When a film opens weakly, it typically drops heavily the following week, and disease drama Extraordinary Measures was no exception.

The Guardian - Film

II Back in his room, Wolfe paced for a long time, with a flustered and happy smile, dropping heavily now into an armchair, now onto the edge of the bed.

The New Yorker

Carl Froch started as the underdog, was dropped heavily in the third round and was trailing on the scorecards when his fists finally put an end to Jermain Taylor's night with just 14 seconds left in the last round.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drop heavily", ensure the context clearly indicates a substantial decrease or descent. Avoid using it for minor reductions.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "drop heavily" can sound overly dramatic or formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "fall a lot" or "decrease sharply" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop heavily" functions as a verb phrase, where "drop" is the verb and "heavily" is an adverb modifying the verb. According to Ludwig AI, this is grammatically correct and is used to denote a significant decrease or downward movement.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "drop heavily" is grammatically sound and serves to emphasize a significant decrease or descent. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides real-world examples. Although used less frequently, its presence in news, science, and wiki articles indicates its versatility. When using "drop heavily", consider the context to ensure it aligns with the intended degree of intensity, avoiding overuse in informal settings. Alternatives like "decrease significantly" or "fall drastically" may be more appropriate in some cases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Decline sharply

Emphasizes the sudden and steep nature of the decrease.

Fall drastically

Highlights the severity of the reduction or descent.

Decrease significantly

Focuses on the notable magnitude of the decrease.

Plummet rapidly

Implies a very fast and steep decline, often used for stocks or prices.

Descend steeply

Suggests a sharp downward movement or slope.

Reduce substantially

Emphasizes a considerable reduction in quantity or value.

Diminish greatly

Highlights a large decrease in size, extent, or importance.

Subside considerably

Suggests a lessening of intensity or force to a noticeable degree.

Recede noticeably

Indicates a clear retreat or decline from a previous level or position.

Weaken substantially

Focuses on the loss of strength or effectiveness.

FAQs

How can I use "drop heavily" in a sentence?

You can use "drop heavily" to describe a significant decrease or descent, such as "The stock price "declined sharply"" or "The temperature "fell drastically" overnight".

What are some synonyms for "drop heavily"?

Alternatives to "drop heavily" include phrases like "decrease significantly", "plummet rapidly", or "descend steeply".

Is it more appropriate to say "decrease heavily" or "drop heavily"?

While both are understandable, "drop heavily" is generally preferred when referring to a rapid or forceful decrease. "Decrease heavily" isn't as common, so you might want to consider a better substitute like "reduce substantially" depending on context.

What's the difference between "drop heavily" and "fall sharply"?

"Drop heavily" implies a significant force or weight in the decrease, whereas "fall sharply" simply indicates a sudden and substantial reduction. You might also consider a simple "decline sharply" instead.