Drop off
1 Leave
Meaning
Leave someone or something at a destination.
Why off?
Off means removing. Something is not there. It's gone. So, if you drop someone off, they leave the vehicle.
Check out more phrasal verbs with the same preposition logic in Logic > Off.
Examples
subject verb object
She dropped him off at the train station. |
I usually drop my son off at school and then I go to work. |
She dropped off her son with her mother. |
Could you drop the kids off at school? |
I can drop you off on my way to work. |
The bus dropped me off right in front of the building. |
The coach will drop you off about 100 yards from the hotel. |
The cab dropped me off in front of the station. |
Ask the driver to drop you off at the corner of May Street. |
I returned the car and dropped off the keys at their office. |
Completed applications must be mailed or dropped off at the agency office. |
The delivery was dropped off at the wrong address. |
Materials may only be dropped off when the facility is open and operating. |
He dropped the load off and headed home. |
Grammar
separable You can separate this phrasal verb. Someone drops someone off or a bus, taxi, coach can drop someone off somewhere.
I dropped her off at the station. |
I dropped her off. |
I dropped off her. |
I dropped the keys off. |
I dropped them off. |
I dropped off them. |
2 Fall asleep
Meaning
Fall asleep
similar Nod off, doze off, flake out and crash out are the same.
Why off?
Off is used in some phrasal verbs with the idea of falling asleep. The metaphor here is that we disconnect, we're kind of not there when we are asleep.
Check out more phrasal verbs with the same preposition logic in Logic > Off.
Examples
subject verb object
She finally dropped off to sleep. |
I kept dropping off on the sofa. |
I think she was just too tired and dropped off. |
I suppose I must have dropped off. |
She eventually dropped off for a nap. |
Grammar
inseparable Don't separate this phrasal verb in this context. It doesn't take an object. Someone drops off.
She finally dropped off to sleep. |
She finally dropped off. |
3 Decrease
Meaning
Decrease; become less
Why off?
Off is used in some phrasal verbs when things decrease,become less or go down to a lower level. Something is removed.
Check out more phrasal verbs with the same preposition logic in Logic > Off.
Collocations
So, what words go together with drop off?
Examples
subject verb object
New vehicle sales have dropped off significantly. |
The show's quality dropped off in its later seasons. |
Temperatures will drop off quickly as northwest winds strengthen. |
For the past couple of years attendance has dropped off dramatically. |
Public support dropped off as soon as the costs were discussed. |
Their interest dropped off really quickly. |
The number of students dropped off significantly. |
Studies show student attention drops off after 20 minutes. |
Inflation continues to drop off but remains painfully high. |
The company has cut production as demand continues to drop off. |
After menopause, the estrogen level drops off. |
This figure dropped off sharply during the crisis. |
Grammar
inseparable Don't separate this phrasal verb. It doesn't take an object. Something drops off.
Sales have dropped off. |
They have dropped off. |