drop someone off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop someone off" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to the act of taking someone to a specific location and leaving them there. For example, "I will drop you off at the airport." Alternative expressions include "give someone a ride," "take someone to," and "deliver someone to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

They would be able to drop someone off and then go and park themselves.

The Economist

The other dead man was identified as Jacob Aminov, an Israeli diamond importer who was living in Valley Village, Calif., and had come to the airport to drop someone off for a flight.

The New York Times

For example, Chauffeur-Privé drivers can accept a ride before they drop someone off.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

One weekend, she heard that Spyer was going out to the Hamptons and would be dropping someone off at the home of some lesbians she knew.

The New Yorker

More than 70% of the time the aircraft fly with one or two people as passengers and they often fly empty after dropping someone off or picking someone up.

The Economist

That is why coaches, captains and selectors are entrusted with making the right decisions over team plans and selections, instead of impulsively dropping someone off the back of one bad game.

BBC

For example, dropping someone off at the airport shouldn't take any more than 20 minutes in any case.

WikiHow

Gonna piss someone off?

Wikipedia

Brushing someone off.

WikiHow

Someone dropped off a bottle of wine to say thank you; another asked for a contact (Grant pledges to introduce his students to anyone he knows or has met, and they shop his LinkedIn profile for just that purpose).

The New York Times - Magazine

If you and your boyfriend or prospective date live too far apart to walk, have someone drop him off at your house or vice-versa.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "drop someone off", be specific about the location to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "I'll drop you off", specify "I'll drop you off at the library".

Common error

Avoid using incorrect prepositions after "drop". For instance, saying "drop someone at" instead of "drop someone off" is a common mistake. Always use "off" to indicate leaving someone at a destination.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "drop someone off" is that of a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive phrasal verb because it takes a direct object ("someone"). Ludwig confirms that this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drop someone off" is a grammatically correct and very common phrasal verb used to describe the act of transporting a person to a specific location and allowing them to exit the vehicle. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to everyday conversations. It's essential to use the correct preposition "off" to avoid grammatical errors. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media and wiki contexts, and there are several alternative phrases that can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey, such as "give someone a ride" or "take someone to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give someone a ride

Emphasizes the act of providing transportation as a favor.

drive someone to

Specifically mentions driving as the method of transportation.

give someone a lift

A more informal way of saying "give someone a ride".

take someone to

A more general term for transporting someone.

run someone over to

Suggests a quick and casual trip.

transport someone to

A more formal way to describe the act of moving someone to a location.

deliver someone to

Implies a more official or planned transfer of someone.

ferry someone to

Suggests transporting someone across a short distance or body of water.

escort someone to

Suggests providing guidance or protection during transportation.

shuttle someone to

Implies a regular or repeated transportation service.

FAQs

What does "drop someone off" mean?

The phrase "drop someone off" means to transport someone to a specific location and allow them to exit the vehicle there, ending the ride.

What can I say instead of "drop someone off"?

You can use alternatives like "give someone a ride", "take someone to", or "drive someone to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "drop someone at" instead of "drop someone off"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrase is "drop someone off". Saying "drop someone at" is grammatically incorrect.

How do I use "drop someone off" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I need to "give someone a ride" to the airport, so I'll "drop them off" there."