What is drop? Pronunciation and usage in English

drop means . Learn how to pronounce and use drop through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of drop

dropverb

/drɒp/
Definition & pronunciation of drop

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "drop" in English. There are a couple of common pronunciations, and they differ slightly depending on where you are (American vs. British English).

1. American English (Most Common):

  • Pronunciation: /drɒp/ (Sounds like "drohp")
  • Breakdown:
    • "dr": Trilled "d" sound – a quick, light tap of the tongue against the roof of your mouth. It doesn't have to be a super strong, rolled "d" like in Spanish.
    • "o": Short "o" sound, as in "hot" or "lot".
    • "p": A soft, quick "p" sound.

2. British English:

  • Pronunciation: /drɒp/ (also /dɾɒp/) - this one has a slightly different "r" sound.
  • Breakdown:
    • "dr": Sounds like the American pronunciation – a quick "d" followed by the "r."
    • "o": Short "o" sound, as in "hot" or "lot".
    • "p": A soft, quick "p" sound.
    • "r": In British English, the "r" is often flapped, meaning it's pronounced very quickly and lightly, almost like a "d" sound. It's a short, almost silent "r". (The /dɾɒp/ version is slightly more common in this flapped "r" pronunciation).

Resources to help you hear the difference:

Tips for getting it right:

  • Focus on the short "o" sound. That's key to both variations.
  • Don't over-emphasize the "r." Whether it's flapped or not, it shouldn’t be a strong, rolled “r.”

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from (generally)? (e.g., the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia – this helps me adjust the pronunciation I suggest.)

Usage and examples with the word drop in English

Let's break down how to use the word "drop" in English. It's a really versatile word with lots of different meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. As a Verb (To Let Something Fall)

  • Basic Meaning: This is the most common understanding of "drop." It means to let something go, causing it to fall.
    • "I dropped my phone." (It fell from my hand.)
    • "The leaves were dropping from the trees." (Falling down.)
    • "He dropped the ball during the game." (It fell.)

2. As a Verb (To Reduce Something)

  • Reducing Quantity: "Drop" can mean to decrease or reduce something, often in amounts.
    • "We need to drop the price of the product." (Lower the price.)
    • “She decided to drop a class.” (To stop taking a class.)
    • "They dropped the deadline for the project." (Extended the time allowed.)
    • "The company dropped production." (Reduced the amount produced.)

3. As a Verb (To Stop Doing Something)

  • Giving Up or Ceasing: This describes stopping an activity or habit.
    • "I’m going to drop smoking." (Stop smoking.)
    • "She dropped her plans to travel." (Stopped her plans.)
    • “He dropped his objection.” (Stopped opposing something.)

4. As a Verb (To Visit Briefly)

  • Casual Visit: This is a more informal usage, meaning to visit someone briefly.
    • "I dropped by her house to say hello." (I stopped by quickly.)
    • "He dropped into the coffee shop." (He visited briefly.)

5. As a Noun (A Single Unit)

  • A Small Unit: “Drop” is also a noun, referring to a single unit, especially in certain contexts.
    • Money: “I’ll give you a dollar drop.” (A payment for a service, often used in drug dealing - be aware this has criminal connotations).
    • Liquid: “He spilled a drop of water.” (A tiny amount of liquid).
    • Fiber (Textiles): "The fabric has a drop weave." (Referring to the way the threads are woven)

6. As an Interjection (A Short Expression)

  • Expressing Disagreement or Surprise: This is a less common usage, but it can be used to express a sudden reaction.
    • "Drop it!" (Stop it! / Don't do it!)
    • "Drop the bomb!" (Reveal a shocking secret)

Phrases Using "Drop":

  • Drop a hint: To give a subtle clue.
  • Drop in: To visit unexpectedly.
  • Drop out: To withdraw from a school or activity.
  • Drop dead: (Informal and rude) – Meaning “die” or “stop complaining.” Use with extreme caution!
  • Drop a stitch: (Knitting/Crocheting) - To remove a loop of yarn.

Tips for Understanding Context:

  • Pay attention to the surrounding words: The words around "drop" will usually give you a clue to its meaning.
  • Consider the situation: How is the sentence being used? Is it about falling objects, reducing amounts, or something else?

Resources for More Information:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., general conversation, writing, specific situations?)

Synonyms for the word drop

Idioms of the word drop

the bottom drops/falls out (of something)
people stop buying or using the products of a particular industry
  • The bottom has fallen out of the travel market.
die/fall/drop like flies
(informal)to die or become ill and fall down in very large numbers
  • People were dropping like flies in the intense heat.
drop a/the dime on somebody
(North American English, informal)to tell the police or people in authority that somebody has done something wrong
  • If he finds out who dropped the dime on him, they're in trouble.
  • I'm worried if I drop a dime on them, they'll get fired, which I don't think they really deserve.
drop the ball
(North American English, informal)to make a mistake and cause something that you are responsible for to fail
  • Let’s not drop the ball on this.
drop a brick/clanger
(British English, informal)to say something that offends or embarrasses somebody, although you did not intend to
    drop your bundle
    (Australian English, New Zealand English, informal)to suddenly not be able to think clearly; to act in a stupid way because you have lost control over yourself
      drop dead
      (informal)to die suddenly and unexpectedly
        (informal)used to tell somebody, rudely, to stop annoying you, interfering, etc.
          drop your guard
          to stop being careful and preparing yourself for possible danger or difficulty
          • You can never drop your guard with a two-year-old.
          • Even when he's winning, he never drops his guard.
          drop somebody in it
          (British English, informal)to put somebody in an embarrassing situation, especially by telling a secret that you should not have told
            drop/dump something in somebody’s lap
            (informal)to make something the responsibility of another person
            • They dropped the problem firmly back in my lap.
            drop names
            to mention famous people you know or have met in order to impress others
            • She found him rather irritating to talk to; all he did was drop names.
            something drops/falls into somebody’s lap
            somebody has the opportunity to do something pleasant without having made any effort
            • My dream job just fell into my lap.
            somebody’s jaw dropped/fell/sagged
            used to say that somebody suddenly looked surprised, shocked or disappointed
              let somebody/something drop
              to do or say nothing more about somebody/something
              • I suggest we let the matter drop.
              to mention somebody/something in a conversation, by accident or as if by accident
              • He let it drop that the prime minister was a close friend of his.
              the penny drops
              (informal, especially British English)used to say that somebody has finally understood or realized something that they had not understood or realized before
              • I had to explain the joke to her a couple of times before the penny dropped.
              you could hear a pin drop
              it was extremely quiet
              • The audience was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.

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