English Reference

Phrasal verb

drop over

Definition

phrasal verb. to pay a short, informal visit to someone's house without a strict plan.

phrasal verb. to visit a person's home briefly and informally; often implies a lack of prior arrangement or a casual social call.

Examples

“Why don't you drop over for a coffee tomorrow?”

“My neighbor said she might drop over later to borrow some sugar for her cake.”

“While we were busy unpacking the moving boxes, several local residents decided to drop over and introduce themselves to the neighborhood.”

Examples

simple

“Why don't you drop over for a coffee tomorrow?”

contextual

“My neighbor said she might drop over later to borrow some sugar for her cake.”

complex

“While we were busy unpacking the moving boxes, several local residents decided to drop over and introduce themselves to the neighborhood.”

Usage

usually followed by a person's home as an implied destination; often used with 'by' or 'in' as alternatives.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'drop off' (to leave something/someone) to avoid confusion; emphasize the casual, unplanned nature of the visit compared to 'visit' or 'attend'.

Pitfall

I will drop over you tomorrow.

I will drop over tomorrow.

'drop over' is intransitive in this sense; you do not 'drop over' a person, you drop over to their house.

Phrasal verb

Particles

over

Separability

inseparable

Pattern

drop + over

Synonyms

Antonyms

Grammar

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference