All phrasal verbs
drop
/drɑp/4 phrasal verbsThe plain verb means to let something fall.
Drop off, drop by and drop in are all about brief visits or deliveries, which makes them the confusable set. Drop off = deliver someone or something and leave. Drop by and drop in = visit briefly, usually without arranging it first.
Drop out is the odd one — to quit school or a competition.
Side by side
Every DROP phrasal verb, with the one line that keeps it apart from its siblings. Tap any one to open it.
| Phrasal verb | Means | How to remember it |
|---|---|---|
| drop offSeparable3 meanings | deliver someone or something; fall asleep; decrease | OFF = you leave them and go. |
| drop byNo object | visit briefly without arranging it | BY = you were passing anyway. |
| drop inNo object | visit unexpectedly | IN = you appear inside, unannounced. |
| drop outNo object | quit school, a course or a race | OUT = you leave the group permanently. |