a short drop and a sudden stop
A fall to one's death by hanging.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The old outlaw feared a short drop and a sudden stop.”
“The judge sentenced the prisoner to a short drop and a sudden stop for his crimes.”
“In the grim days of the frontier, the condemned man faced his final moments knowing he would meet a short drop and a sudden stop.”
The phrase relies upon the internal rhyme of *drop* with *stop* for its longevity. It remains a clinical, albeit rhythmic, description of the mechanics of judicial hanging.
- 01
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 02
caught short
unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed
- 03
couldn't stop a pig in a passage
To be bow-legged.
- 04
don't drop the soap
Used as a mockery to someone who is about to be or should be confined in prison.
- 05
down to the short strokes
In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
- 06
draw the short straw
To be selected to do an undesirable task (by drawing the shortest straw or otherwise).
- 07
drop a bollock
To make a mistake.
- 08
drop a bomb
Alternative form of drop a bombshell.
Last updated August 10, 2026