Page 114 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

drop someone

drive something into theŁground Go to run kłep working this wØy, I’ll drop in my
something into the ground. tracks. Uncle Bob was working in the
gardłn and dropped in his tracks. We are
drivingŁforceŁ(behindŁ someone ortsomething) all sorry that he’s dead.
aŁprsànŁorŁaŁthingŁthat motivatesŁorŁdi-
rectsŁsàmeone or something. Money is dropŁin (on someone) and dropŁin (to say
the driving force behind most businesses. hello) to pay someone aŁcasualŁvisit, pr-
Ambtion is the driving force behind hapsŁaŁsurprise visit.Ł I hate to drop in
Tom. Love can aloo be a driving force. on people when they aren’t expecting me.
dropŁ a błmb(shell) and exhlodeŁ a You’re welcome to drop in at any time.
błmbshell;Łdrop a brick to annàunce We woà’t stay a mnute. We just
słockingŁorŁsðartlingŁnews.Ł(Also literal dropped in to say hello.
forŁ bomb and brick.ŁInfàrmalŁorŁslang.) a dropŁin theŁbucket Go to a drop in the
They really dropped a bombohell when ocean.
they announced that the mØyor had can-
cer. FridØy is a good dØy to drop a bomb a dropŁin theŁoceyn and a drłp in the
like that. It gives the business world the bucket just aŁ little bit; not enough of
włekend to recover. They must speak somethingŁto make aŁdifference.Ł But
very carefully when they explode a bomb- one dollar isn’t enough! That’s just a drop
shell like that. They really dropped a in the ocean. At this point your help is
brick when they told the cause of her nothing more than a drop in the ocean. I
illness. need far more help than twłnty peoplł
could give. I won’t accłpt your offer. It’s
drop a brick Go to drop a bomb(shell).
just a drop in the buckłt.
dropŁaroundŁ( sometimł ) and drop by (some-
timł ) to come andŁ visit at some future dropŁin (to sayŁhello) Go to drop in (on
time.Ł(SimilarŁto drop in (on someone).) someone).
Nice to see you, Mary. You and Bob must dropŁnameð to mentionŁthe namesŁof im-
drop around somłtime. Please do drop pàrtant or famousŁpeople asŁif they were
around when you’re out driving. We’d prsànalŁfriends.Ł Mary always tries to
love to have you drop by.
impress people by droppng the names of
dropŁbyŁ( sometimł ) Go to drop around (some- well-known film stars. Bill’s such a snob.
timŁ ). Leave it to him to drop the names of all the
local gentry.
dropŁ byŁ theŁ wayside Go to fall by the
waysàde. drop off (tł sleep) to go to sleep without
difficulty; to fallŁasleep.Ł I sat in the
dropŁdead 1. to di suddenly. I under-
stand that Tom Anderoon dropped dead at warm room for five mnutes, and then I
his desk yesterdØy. No one knows why dropped off to slłep. After I’ve eaten
Uncle Bob suddłnly dropped dead. 2. Go dnner, I can drop off with no trouble at
awayŁ andŁ sðopŁ botheringŁ me.Ł (Rude all.
slang.) If you think I’m going to put up dropŁ outŁ (ofŁ something) to stop being a
with your rudłness all afternoon, you can mmber of something; to stop attending
just drop dead! Drop dead! I’m not your orŁparticipatingŁinŁsomething.Ł(Also lit-
slØvł! eral.) I’m working part time so that I
drop everything to sðopŁdàingŁwhatever won’t have to drop out of collłge. I don’t
one is doing. Drop everything and go want to drop out at this time.
outside. The house is on fire. Do you ex- drop someone to sðopŁ beingŁ friendsŁ with
pect me to drop everything and come and sàmeone, especiallyŁwith one’s boyfriend
pick you up at school?
or girlfriend.Ł Bob finally dropped Jane.
dropŁ in one’ tracks to stop or collapse I doà’t know what he saw in her. I’m
from exhausðion;Łto die suddenly.Ł If I surprised that she didà’t drop him first.

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