dropping a claim

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dropping a claim" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of withdrawing or abandoning a legal or formal assertion or demand. Example: "After careful consideration, the plaintiff decided to drop the claim against the defendant."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In 2010 it reported that Max Clifford, a public-relations adviser, had been paid £1m by the tabloid for dropping a claim against it.

The Economist

A spokesman for the home affairs department said it had granted Semugoma a four-year exceptional skills work permit in return for him dropping a claim for political asylum.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Among other worries, the Philippines had not dropped a claim to Sabah.

The Economist

Mr. Olofson later said that he was wrongfully dismissed and asked for a "multimillion-dollar payment" to drop a claim for termination, Global Crossing said.

The New York Times

The British pension fund will also drop a claim against Kodak of £1.8bn, which was the current pension scheme's deficit.

BBC

A former senior aide to Senator Max Baucus has dropped a legal claim that the senator fired her after she rebuffed his sexual advances.

The New York Times

The government also decided to drop a central claim that Microsoft violated antitrust law by integrating its Internet Explorer browser into the Windows operating system.

The New York Times

In April, it resolved a crucial dispute with its British pension, which dropped a $2.8 billion claim against Kodak while buying the company's personalized imaging and document imaging businesses for $650 million.

The New York Times

On Thursday, the Justice Department announced its intention to abandon efforts to seek a breakup of the Microsoft Corporation and dropped a central claim in the case, which had been filed by the Clinton administration.

The New York Times

Earlier, the Swiss financial group announced that it will also take a 1.6% stake in Bank of China for SFr645m —BoC's third investment deal with foreign institutions since mid-August.Equitable Life came under pressure from policyholders to explain last week's decision to drop a negligence claim against Ernst & Young, the firm's former auditor which it blames for its near-collapse in 2000.

The Economist

As part of the settlement, AIG will drop a $1 billion claim against Mr Greenberg, pay his legal fees and return personal items.Mervyn King, the governor of the Bank of England, revealed how close Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS came to collapse in October 2008.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "dropping a claim" when you want to convey the action of abandoning or ceasing to pursue a formal assertion, especially in legal or official contexts. Ensure the subject clearly identifies who is relinquishing the claim.

Common error

Avoid using "dropping a claim" interchangeably with phrases like "making a claim". "Dropping a claim" means abandoning it, whereas "making a claim" means initiating it. Misusing these terms can create confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dropping a claim" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of relinquishing or abandoning a previously made assertion or demand. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dropping a claim" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression that signifies the act of withdrawing or abandoning a previously made assertion or demand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

It is most frequently found in News & Media, but is suitable for a range of contexts from business to general communication. While synonyms like "withdrawing a claim" or "abandoning a claim" exist and may be more appropriate in formal settings, "dropping a claim" maintains a neutral register and effectively conveys the intended meaning. Pay attention to the context to avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases like "filing a claim", which have the opposite meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

withdrawing a claim

Replaces "dropping" with the more formal "withdrawing", implying a deliberate and official removal of the claim.

abandoning a claim

Suggests a more complete and possibly permanent relinquishment of the claim.

relinquishing a claim

Similar to abandoning, but may also imply a sense of surrender or concession.

rescinding a claim

Emphasizes the act of taking back or canceling the claim.

forgoing a claim

Suggests a voluntary choice to not pursue the claim.

waiving a claim

Implies a legal or formal decision to give up the right to the claim.

dismissing a claim

Indicates that the claim has been rejected or terminated, often by an authority.

rejecting a claim

Highlights a refusal to accept or acknowledge the claim.

nullifying a claim

Signifies that the claim has been rendered invalid or without legal effect.

discontinuing a claim

Implies that the claim process is being stopped before its conclusion.

FAQs

What does "dropping a claim" mean?

The phrase "dropping a claim" means to withdraw or abandon a previously made assertion, demand, or legal action. It implies that the person or entity making the claim is no longer pursuing it.

What can I say instead of "dropping a claim"?

You can use alternatives like "withdrawing a claim", "abandoning a claim", or "relinquishing a claim" depending on the context.

Is "dropping a claim" formal or informal?

"Dropping a claim" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives like "withdrawing a claim" might be preferred in official documents.

What's the difference between "dropping a claim" and "filing a claim"?

"Dropping a claim" signifies the act of ceasing to pursue an existing claim, whereas "filing a claim" refers to the initial action of submitting or registering a claim.