drop off
drop off
1. verb To leave someone or something at the destination to which one has transported it. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "drop" and "off." When do I need to drop the kids off at soccer practice? I'll come to your house tonight and drop off your cake pan.
2. verb To happen less often than is normal or typical. Is Kelly mad at me? We used to talk all the time, but our conversations have really dropped off lately.
3. verb To decline significantly. Don't sign that defenseman—his play has really dropped off as he's gotten older. That business had to close after sales dropped off sharply.
4. verb To release someone or something from one's grasp (and let it fall) from a particular place (which is listed after "off"). In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "drop" and "off." We dropped rocks off the bridge and listened to them splash into the river. My daughter likes when I drop her off the ledge into the pool.
5. verb To fall asleep quickly and/or easily. If you turn on the baby's mobile, she'll drop off without a fuss.
6. verb To die. At least grandpa just dropped off in his sleep, rather than after some long illness.
7. noun A significant decline. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Don't sign that defenseman—there's been a real drop-off in his play as he's gotten older. That business had to close after suffering a major drop-off in sales.
8. noun A precipitous descent. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. We aren't experienced enough skiers to go down a drop-off like that and survive!
9. noun A place where someone or something is left or delivered. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Where is the drop-off for clothing donations?
10. adjective Describing a place were someone or something can be left or delivered. In this usage, the phrase is usually hyphenated. Where is the drop-off box for clothing donations?
See also: drop, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
drop someone or something off something
and drop someone or something offto let someone or something fall from something; to make someone or something fall from something. They dropped the feather off the top of the building. Jake dropped off a feather and it fell to the ground.
See also: drop, off
drop someone or something off
(some place)1. . Lit. to let someone or a group out of a vehicle at a particular place; to deliver someone or something some place. Let's drop these shirts off at the cleaners. Let's drop off Tom and Jerry at the hamburger joint.
2. Fig. to give someone or a group a ride to some place. Can I drop you off somewhere in town? I dropped off the kids at the party.
See also: drop, off
drop off (to sleep)
Fig. to go to sleep without difficulty; to fall asleep. I sat in the warm room for five minutes, and then I dropped off to sleep. After I've eaten dinner, I can drop off with no trouble at all.
See also: drop, off
drop off
1. . Lit. [for a part of something] to break away and fall off. The car's bumper just dropped off—honest. I lifted boxes until I thought my arms would drop off.
2. Fig. to decline. Attendance at the meetings dropped off after Martin became president. Spending dropped off as the recession became worse.
See also: drop, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
drop off
1. Fall asleep, as in When I looked at Grandma, she had dropped off. [Early 1800s]
2. Decrease; also, become less frequent. For example, Sales have dropped off markedly, or Over the year her visits dropped off. [Early 1800s]
3. Deliver, unload, as in Bill dropped off the package at the office.
4. Die, as in He is so ill he could drop off any time. [Early 1800s]
See also: drop, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
drop off
v.
1. To fall off something: The box must have dropped off the back of the truck.
2. To cause something to fall off something: The hiker dropped the rock off the cliff's edge.
3. To deliver something to some place: Drop those DVDs off at the video store on your way home. We'll drop off the gifts at your house later.
4. To decline: Sales dropped off in December.
5. To fall asleep: The movie was so dull that I dropped off for a while.
See also: drop, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- orient
- orient to
- orient to (something)
- spiff up
- spiffed up
- back into
- back into (someone or something)
- angle
- angling
- not do (someone or oneself) any favors