drop the thought

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "drop the thought" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to suggest that someone should stop thinking about a particular idea or notion. Example: "After considering the consequences, I decided to drop the thought of moving to another city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Drop the thought.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

When Barrales saw Lee play, he dropped the thought of trying to play rhythm guitar himself because he had a fear of not being able to keep up.

Wikipedia

Just let them clothes drop, the policeman thought.

The New Yorker

His heart dropped at the thought of what he was letting happen.

The New Yorker

The sounds you just heard was jaws dropping at the thought that this might happen and what it could mean to revenue and earnings expectations for Facebook, Alphabet, Twitter, Snap, Disney, CBS, The New York Times and all the other companies for which advertising is a key part of their business model.

Forbes

"We have dropped from the thoughts and care of everybody," he said.

The New York Times

"It's hard for me to understand why we....". he began, then dropped the painful thought.

The New York Times - Magazine

Well, you need to drop that thought like a bad habit.

WikiHow

From this recurrent image of a road he drops into evoking the thought of his intellectual idol, the "physicist, ballistician, philosopher and psychologist" called de Selby.

The New Yorker

Let's drop down out of the thought realm and ground this in one of our greatest teachers: animals.

HuffPost

King has a habit (habit? habits are formed, this is something innate) of indenting brackets or dropping the italicised thoughts of his characters into his third-person narratives.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "drop the thought" when you want to directly encourage someone to stop considering a particular idea, especially when it's causing them distress or hindering progress.

Common error

While "drop the thought" is understandable, it can sound too informal or dismissive in professional or academic settings. Opt for phrases like "abandon the idea" or "reconsider this approach" for a more appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "drop the thought" functions as an imperative, directly urging someone to cease considering a specific idea or notion. Ludwig AI examples reinforce this function in everyday language and contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

19%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

14%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "drop the thought" is a grammatically sound phrase used to encourage someone to stop thinking about something, though it's relatively rare and leans towards informal contexts. Ludwig's analysis, supported by real-world examples, indicates that the phrase is most frequently found in news and media, while other sources show that is considered correct. For formal settings, consider using alternatives such as "dismiss the idea" or "abandon the idea" to maintain a professional tone. When using this phrase, ensure your intent is clear, and be mindful of the setting to avoid sounding dismissive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dismiss the idea

Focuses on actively rejecting an idea.

abandon the idea

Implies a more permanent relinquishing of the idea.

forget about it

A more casual way of saying to stop thinking about something.

let it go

Suggests releasing an idea or concern, often emotionally.

disregard that notion

A more formal way to dismiss an idea as unimportant.

shelve the thought

Implies temporarily putting an idea aside.

put it out of your mind

Focuses on actively removing a thought from one's consciousness.

cease thinking about it

A direct instruction to stop considering something.

get over it

Suggests moving past an issue or idea, often after dwelling on it.

don't dwell on it

Advises against prolonged consideration of a topic.

FAQs

How to use "drop the thought" in a sentence?

You can use "drop the thought" to encourage someone to stop thinking about something. For example, "He should "drop the thought" of investing in that company."

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

You can use alternatives like "dismiss the idea", "abandon the idea", or "forget about it", depending on the context.

Is "drop the thought" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "drop the thought" is generally more suited for informal conversations. In formal writing, consider alternatives like "abandon the idea" or "reconsider this approach".

When is it appropriate to use "drop the thought"?

Use "drop the thought" when you want to directly but casually suggest that someone stop considering a particular idea, especially if it's unproductive or causing them anxiety.