drop him a line

USAGE SUMMARY

"drop him a line" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a phrase used to mean "send him a message" or "contact him". For example, "If you ever need to get in touch with John, just drop him a line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Travel

General Communication

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Drop him a line at [email protected]@theguardian.com

The Guardian - Sport

Drop him a line on [email protected]@theguardian.com

The Guardian - Sport

He encouraged "any media of global influence" that may be interested to drop him a line.

The New Yorker

Drop him a line and he can help you skip the resorts and get to know another side of the island.

The Guardian - Travel

Former Brisbane Broncos and Wallabies team-mate Wendell Sailor was one of the first to drop him a line: "Congrats to one of my best mates @LoteTuqiri u are the real Dual international & the best.

Independent

When Weedon invited anyone needing help to play the guitar to drop him a line, sackfuls of mail arrived at Associated Rediffusion, who had to print and mail out thousands of instructional leaflets.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Will be dropping him a line as soon as possible.

The Washington Post

I dropped him a line one Sunday morning, and discovered that, serendipitously, he was in New York that day.

The New Yorker

To explore the entire breadth of Jeff's work, follow him on 500px, pay his website a visit, or drop him a 140-character line on Twitter.

HuffPost

West boasts that Kris is "lucky I ain't had Jay drop him from the team", a line referencing his frequent collaborator Jay-Z, who was part-owner of the New Jersey Nets, the NBA team that basketball star Kris Humphries played for at the time.

Wikipedia

Drop them a line.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drop him a line" when you want to suggest a casual or informal way of contacting someone, typically via a brief message like an email or note.

Common error

Avoid using "drop him a line" in highly formal or professional contexts where a more direct or professional tone is needed. Instead, opt for alternatives like "contact him" or "reach out to him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop him a line" functions as an idiomatic expression, advising or suggesting that someone should contact another person, typically via a short message. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct to use and can be found in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

9%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drop him a line" is a grammatically sound and relatively common idiomatic expression used to suggest that someone should contact another person with a short message. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, although most frequently found in News & Media. For formal settings, consider alternatives like "contact him". Best practice involves understanding the context and register to ensure appropriateness. The frequency of this phrase is common, making it a versatile addition to your communication toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Send him a message

Direct and simple alternative, focusing on the act of sending a message.

Contact him

More formal and general alternative, suitable for various contexts.

Get in touch with him

Slightly more elaborate way of saying contact him.

Reach out to him

Emphasizes the effort to make contact, often used in professional settings.

Write to him

Specifically refers to written communication, such as a letter or email.

Give him a call

Specifies communication via telephone.

Email him

Modern alternative that specifies the medium of communication.

Ping him

Informal, tech-related term for sending a quick message.

Shoot him an email

More casual version of emailing.

Make contact with him

A more formal way to express initiating communication.

FAQs

What does "drop him a line" mean?

The phrase "drop him a line" means to send someone a message, usually a short and informal one, such as an email or note. It's a casual way of saying, "contact him".

When is it appropriate to use "drop him a line"?

It's appropriate in informal settings such as communicating with friends, family, or colleagues you have a friendly relationship with. Avoid using it in very formal or professional situations where a more direct approach is necessary.

What can I say instead of "drop him a line"?

You can use alternatives like "send him a message", "contact him", or "get in touch with him" depending on the context.

Is "drop him a line" grammatically correct?

Yes, "drop him a line" is a grammatically correct and commonly used idiom in English. It follows standard English grammar rules.