drop the question

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop the question" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to suggest that someone should stop asking or discussing a particular question or topic. Example: "I think we should just drop the question about the budget for now and focus on the project details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Of course, pollsters could drop the question as being no longer relevant.

The New York Times

Yet forest elephant advocates aren't likely to drop the question anytime soon, especially as they say the weight of both morphological and genetic data is on their side.

The Guardian

Sometimes they'll drop the question immediately, but sometimes they'll persist, and I'm learning not to give in to the persistence but rather to ensure that the questions stay with them until they arrive at a point when they know nothing for certain except that they have questions they cannot answer so easily.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I believe the other shoe will drop; the question is when," he said.

Los Angeles Times

As we move forward and continue to make progress, there might be one more thing that we can to, that hasn't been done yet, suggests Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer: "When confronted with the question of women in comedy, maybe an effective way to deal with the issue wouldn't necessarily be to drop the question, but maybe to ask men the same thing.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

— "See the Moon?" (1966) It can certainly look, in short, as though Barthelme, like Warhol, were simply dropping the question of whether something counts as literature or not, since markers of the literary are impossible to find in his writing.

The New Yorker

Mitt did not even get a chance to ask Huckabee why, in a new Times Magazine interview, he coyly dropped the question of whether Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers.

The New York Times

Another opponent of dropping the question is Patrick Jankowski, vice president of research at the Greater Houston Partnership.

Science Magazine

We were only about 5 minutes from my building and then he dropped the question I feared that he would; "What do you do in New York?" I thought of alternate answers I could give without "fully" lying to him.

Huffington Post

Yet a bigger change is expected, with large-scale shale-gas production possible in China, Australia, Argentina and several European countries, including Poland and Ukraine.Last year the International Energy Agency released a boosterish report entitled "Are we entering a golden age of gas?" On May 29th it released a follow-up, from which it dropped the question-mark.

The Economist

The end of the first-time buyer tax credit in April inevitably meant that sales would drop, the only question was by how much.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drop the question" when you want to suggest that a topic is no longer relevant, productive, or appropriate for discussion. It implies a conscious decision to move away from that particular line of inquiry.

Common error

Avoid using "drop the question" in highly formal or academic writing where more precise or nuanced language is expected. Instead, consider alternatives like "cease the inquiry" or "disregard the question" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop the question" functions as an imperative, often used to suggest ceasing discussion or inquiry on a particular topic. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drop the question" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to suggest discontinuing a particular line of inquiry. While Ludwig AI validates its correctness, it's important to consider the context in which it's used. It is typically employed in news and media contexts, possessing a neutral register that might be less suitable for highly formal or scientific writing. Alternatives like "abandon the question" or "disregard the question" may be more appropriate in those settings. Despite its limited frequency, "drop the question" serves a clear communicative purpose in encouraging the cessation of a discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abandon the question

This suggests a more formal and definitive cessation of considering the question.

disregard the question

This implies that the question is not important or relevant.

set aside the question

This suggests a temporary postponement of considering the question.

ignore the question

This emphasizes a deliberate choice not to engage with the question.

shelve the question

This means to put the question aside, possibly indefinitely.

dismiss the question

This conveys a rejection of the question as invalid or unworthy of consideration.

table the question

This refers to formally postponing the question for future discussion.

cease questioning

This is a more formal way of saying to stop asking the question.

refrain from asking

This emphasizes restraint in posing the question.

end the inquiry

This suggests a complete termination of the investigation or questioning.

FAQs

How can I use "drop the question" in a sentence?

You can use "drop the question" to suggest ceasing discussion or inquiry on a specific topic. For example, "I think we should "drop the question" of who's to blame and focus on solutions."

What can I say instead of "drop the question"?

You can use alternatives like "disregard the question", "set aside the question", or "abandon the question" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "drop the question" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "drop the question" may sound informal in certain formal contexts. Consider using phrases like "cease the inquiry" or "discontinue the discussion" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "drop the question" and "avoid the question"?

"Avoid the question" implies evading or steering clear of a topic, while ""drop the question"" suggests a deliberate decision to stop asking or discussing it.