drop off
phrasal verb·4 senses·particle off
Meanings
Take and leave someone or something at a location
Why “off”? Someone or something leaves a starting point. An action or event can also begin.
“Leo offered to drop Maya off at the club before parking.”
“Maya dropped Leo off at the bus stop on her way to work.”
“A friend dropped Maya and Leo off at the train station for their weekend trip.”
Fall asleep, often unintentionally
Why “off”? Something is delayed, interrupted, reduced, or brought to an end.
“He dropped off in front of the TV.”
“Maya dropped off on the bus.”
Decrease in number, level or amount
“Sales dropped off in winter.”
“Attendance dropped off after lunch.”
Detach and fall away from something
Why “off”? A piece detaches from the whole. Contact with the body is broken.
“Leaves drop off in autumn.”
“The button dropped off my coat.”
Common mistake
I'll drop off you at the station.
I'll drop you off at the station.
A pronoun goes between the verb and the particle.
Natural collocations
The word partners “drop off” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.
Don't confuse with
Test yourself
“Leo offered to drop Maya off at the club before parking.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
drop back
A contrast learners often mix up
Move to a position further behind
drop out
A contrast learners often mix up
Stop attending a school or course before finishing
back off
Same off pattern: separation
Move away from someone or something, often in retreat; Stop pressuring or interfering with someone; Withdraw from a previous position or commitment
bite off
Same off pattern: separation
Remove a piece of something by biting it; Accept more work or responsibility than you can manage ("bite off more than you can chew"); Speak sharply and curtly
blast off
Same off pattern: departure
Launch into the sky with great force
block off
Same off pattern: separation
Block access to an area or route; Reserve a period of time for a specific purpose
blow off
Same off pattern: separation
Be removed by force, especially wind; Cancel plans or fail to meet someone deliberately; Release strong feelings, especially anger; Remove dust or particles by blowing air on them
break off
Same off pattern: stopping
Suddenly end a relationship, discussion, activity, or official contact; Detach a piece from something larger by breaking; Take a short pause from an activity
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “drop off”.
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