drop cannon
A1 (as a verb), A2 (as a noun)Universal; extremely common in all registers from informal to formal.
Definition
Meaning
to fall or allow something to fall vertically, often by accident or deliberately.
To decrease in amount, level, or intensity; to stop doing, considering, or including something; to mention or deliver something casually.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Highly polysemous. Core physical sense of 'fall' extends metaphorically to concepts like prices, voices, topics, and relationships. Often implies a sudden or deliberate cessation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Drop' is used almost identically. Potential minor differences in specific collocations (e.g., 'drop a clanger' is more BrE, 'drop the ball' is common in both).
Connotations
Neutral for the core action. Can imply carelessness ('drop the vase'), intentionality ('drop the subject'), or informal delivery ('drop by').
Frequency
Extremely high and consistent frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SV (The pen dropped.)SVO (He dropped the pen.)SVOA (Drop the files on my desk.)SVC (Her voice dropped to a whisper.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drop the ball (make a mistake)”
- “drop a bombshell (reveal shocking news)”
- “at the drop of a hat (immediately)”
- “a drop in the ocean (a tiny amount)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Profits dropped by 5%. We had to drop the underperforming product line.
Academic
The study observed a significant drop in participant engagement after the third week.
Everyday
Can you drop me at the station? I think I dropped my keys somewhere.
Technical
The network experienced a packet drop rate of 0.1%.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- There's been a sharp drop in temperatures overnight.
- Add a drop of milk to your tea.
- It's a long drop from the top of the cliff.
American English
- We saw a 20% drop in sales this quarter.
- He didn't have a drop of empathy.
- The parachutist made a perfect drop into the zone.
verb
British English
- Mind you don't drop that priceless vase.
- I'll drop you a text when I'm on the train.
- He was told to drop the investigation.
American English
- Don't drop the ball on this client account.
- I can drop you off at the corner.
- The company decided to drop the lawsuit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child dropped his toy on the floor.
- Please don't drop the glass.
- I need to drop these books at the library on my way home.
- Prices usually drop after the holidays.
- She subtly dropped a hint about the surprise party.
- After the scandal, his reputation dropped considerably.
- The prosecutor was forced to drop the charges due to lack of evidence.
- The article drops several allusions to classical mythology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a water DROP falling from a leaf. The word sounds like the soft 'plop' it makes.
Conceptual Metaphor
LESS IS DOWN; FAILURE IS DOWN (drop out, drop the ball); INFORMALITY IS DOWN (drop by, drop a line).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not always 'бросать' (which implies more force/throw). Often closer to 'уронить' (accidentally) or 'понижать' (reduce). 'Drop in' means to visit, not to physically fall inside something.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'fall' instead of 'drop' for transitive actions (Incorrect: *'I fell the cup.' Correct: 'I dropped the cup.'). Confusing 'drop by' (visit) with 'drop in' (can mean visit or physically fall into).
Practice
Quiz
In the business context, 'to drop a line' most likely means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Fall' is almost always intransitive (something falls). 'Drop' can be both intransitive (it dropped) and transitive (I dropped it). You can drop something, but you cannot 'fall' something.
It is neutral. Its core meanings are acceptable in formal writing (e.g., 'a drop in revenue'). Some idiomatic uses are informal (e.g., 'drop by my place').
Yes. As a noun, it primarily means a small amount of liquid ('a drop of water') or a decrease ('a price drop').
It is an idiom meaning to stop talking about a particular topic, often because it is causing an argument or discomfort.