drop off
B1Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
To deliver someone or something to a specific place and then leave.
To decrease in amount, intensity, or quality; to fall asleep; to decline gradually.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb is separable (e.g., 'drop the kids off'). Its meaning shifts significantly based on context: physical delivery vs. quantitative decline vs. falling asleep.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use all core meanings. 'Drop-off' as a noun (a decline, or a delivery point) is slightly more common in American English.
Connotations
Similar in both. The 'fall asleep' meaning is informal in both varieties.
Frequency
All meanings are common in both UK and US English. The 'deliver' sense is extremely frequent in everyday contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + drop off + [Object] + at/in [Location][Subject] + drop off + (adverb of degree)[Subject] + drop off + to sleepVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drop off the face of the earth”
- “drop off the radar”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a decline in sales, productivity, or engagement (e.g., 'Website traffic dropped off after the update').
Academic
Used to describe statistical decreases or waning interest in a subject.
Everyday
Primarily used for delivering people/items and informally for falling asleep.
Technical
In logistics, refers to delivery points; in data science, refers to a decrease in metrics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you drop me off at the tube station?
- Attendance began to drop off after the first lecture.
- I dropped off during the film.
American English
- I'll drop off the paperwork at your office.
- Sales dropped off significantly in the third quarter.
- He dropped off on the couch after work.
adjective
British English
- The drop-off point is clearly marked.
- We observed a drop-off in quality.
American English
- Use the designated drop-off lane.
- The report shows a sharp drop-off in revenue.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drop off my son at school every morning.
- The number of visitors drops off in the winter.
- Can you drop these books off at the library on your way home?
- Her enthusiasm for the project dropped off after a few weeks.
- The taxi dropped us off right outside the theatre.
- Investment in the sector has dropped off precipitously since the policy change.
- The courier service offers a convenient drop-off and pick-up facility.
- Consumer confidence dropped off a cliff following the financial news, leading to a severe market correction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a parent DRIVING, then STOPPING (dropping) the car to let a child OUT (off) at school. The action stops and the level goes down.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS CHANGE (delivering is causing a change of location; declining is moving downward).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating literally as 'бросать вниз'. For 'deliver', use 'отвозить/отводить'. For 'decline', use 'снижаться/падать'. For 'sleep', use 'засыпать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'drop off' for 'pick up' (antonym error). Omitting the preposition 'at' (e.g., 'drop off school' instead of 'drop off AT school'). Confusing it with 'drop out' (quit).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence does 'drop off' mean 'to fall asleep'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when it means 'to deliver'. You can say 'drop the keys off' or 'drop off the keys'. When it means 'decline' or 'fall asleep', it is not separable.
'Drop off' means to deliver, decrease, or fall asleep. 'Drop out' means to quit or stop participating in something (e.g., school, a race).
Yes, the hyphenated form 'drop-off' is a common noun meaning a decline or a designated delivery location (e.g., 'a sharp drop-off', 'the airport drop-off').
Yes, 'drop off to sleep' is a standard, though slightly informal, phrase meaning to fall asleep, often unintentionally or easily.