drop off

present singular third person drops off · participle present dropping off · participle past dropped off · past dropped off

1. idiomaticintransitiveTo fall asleep.

   After two glasses of whiskey, Tom soon dropped off in front of the television.

   1 more example

   And when the Boy dropped off to sleep, the Rabbit would snuggle down close under his little warm chin and dream, with the Boy's hands clasped close round him all night long.

   1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC

   Synonyms: drift off, doze off, crash out, doze off, drift off, fall asleep, get off, go night-night

2. USespeciallyidiomatictransitiveTo deliver; to deposit or leave; to allow passengers to alight.

   Can you drop the kids off at school?

   2 more examples

   I'll drop off your books when I see you tonight.

   After dropping off travellers at Foregate Street, my train terminates at Shrub Hill - a station which boasts one of the best selection [sic] of semaphore signals left in the country.

   2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67

3. To fall off:
   1. alsofigurativelytransitiveTo drop from, fall from.

      The leaves were slowly dropping off the tree.

   2. alsofigurativelyintransitiveTo drop, fall.

      The leaves hung on until the end of November, then dropped off quickly.

4. figurativelyintransitiveTo end a connection with a telephone queue, either by hanging up or after being served or processed.

   As soon as a caller drops off, we'll have an open line and maybe you can reach us then.

5. intransitiveTo lessen or reduce.

   Near-synonyms: taper off, dwindle

   1 more example

   Sales have dropped off in recent months.

   Synonyms: fall off, taper off, dwindle

6. datedintransitiveslangTo die.
7. slangTo abandon or give up on (something); to be abandoned or given up on.

   If you ignore them, the fees won't just drop off.

   1 more example

   My lawyer said some of those charges will be dropped off.