drop off a check

USAGE SUMMARY

"drop off a check" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when discussing delivering a payment in the form of a check. For example, "I'll drop off a check at the bank tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Companies didn't even need a proposal from us; they just wanted to come by and drop off a check".

The New York Times

John Filter stopped by personally to drop off a check, since the line for credit-card contributions was not yet operational.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

One reader visited the magazine's Washington bureau and dropped off a check.

The New York Times

For a budget-conscious nonprofit like Mother Jones, there was another benefit to being in the middle of a big national story: one enthusiastic reader sought out the magazine's hard-to-find Washington bureau and dropped off a check.

The New York Times

The wife of one inmate, a Chrysler truck factory worker who is serving half a year for drunk driving, dropped off a check for $7,212 this week to cover part of his bill, the largest single amount ever collected by the sheriff.

The New York Times

And finally, he dropped off a check for $500,000 at the clinic that had found the malignancy.

Forbes

On Wednesday, one man drove up from San Juan Capistrano and dropped off a check at the high school.

Los Angeles Times

A man named Doug, a father of two young kids, had just dropped off a check for $10,000.

Huffington Post

Surveillance video shows Ramos dropping off a rent check at the property manager's office later that day, according to prosecutors.

Los Angeles Times

But when the couple went to Villa Leone on Jan . 20to drop off a $10,000 check for the reception next November, they pulled into an empty, dark parking lot.

The New York Times

Odds are, you will go to the reception and see a card box, which is where you drop off a card that should have a check in it.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drop off a check", consider the context. It implies a quick, often informal delivery. For more formal situations, "deliver a check" or "submit a check" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "drop off a check" in highly formal or legal contexts. While grammatically sound, it may sound too casual. Opt for terms like "submit" or "deliver" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "drop off a check" is a phrasal verb acting as the main verb within a sentence, indicating the action of delivering a check to a specific location. Ludwig confirms the correct grammatical usage of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "drop off a check" is a grammatically correct phrasal verb used to describe the act of delivering a check, often implying a quick or casual delivery. While Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness, its use is relatively rare. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts but can also be found in academia and general writing. For more formal situations, consider using alternatives like "deliver a check" or "submit a check" to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deliver a check

Focuses on the action of delivering, removing the nuance of a quick visit.

submit a check

Emphasizes the formal act of presenting the check as payment or contribution.

hand over a check

Highlights the physical act of transferring the check from one person to another.

personally deliver a check

Adds emphasis on the fact that the check is being delivered in person.

take a check to

Highlights the action of taking the check to a specific location.

mail a check

Specifies the method of delivery as sending via postal service.

send a check

A more general way to indicate the check is being dispatched without specifying the method.

provide a check

Emphasizes the act of supplying the check as a form of payment.

leave a check

Highlights the action of leaving the check at a specific place.

remit a check

A more formal term for sending a check as payment.

FAQs

What does "drop off a check" mean?

The phrase "drop off a check" means to deliver a check to a location, usually quickly and without staying long.

Is it better to say "drop off a check" or "mail a check"?

Whether you should say "drop off a check" or "mail a check" depends on how the check is delivered. Use "drop off a check" if you are physically delivering the check in person. Use "mail a check" if you are sending it through the postal service.

What can I say instead of "drop off a check"?

You can use alternatives like "deliver a check", "submit a check", or "hand over a check" depending on the context.

Is "drop off a check" appropriate for formal communication?

While grammatically correct, "drop off a check" might be too informal for certain formal communication scenarios. In such cases, using phrases like "remit a check" or "submit a check" could be more suitable.