drop the ball

英：[drɔp ðə bɔ:l]

美：[drɑp ði bɔl]

noun

the quantity of fluid that falls in one spherical mass

a drop of rain

a minute quantity or degree of something nonmaterial or intangible

not a drop of meanness in her

a small quantity of drink

hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in three years

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something that resembles a liquid drop: such as

a pendent ornament attached to a piece of jewelryalso: an earring with such a pendant

a small globular cookie or candy

sucking on lemon drops

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a sudden, short drop in an elevator

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in demand

His income took a sudden drop.

a descent by parachutealso: the people or equipment dropped by parachute

expecting another drop this week

a place or central depository to which something (such as mail, money, or stolen property) is brought for distribution or transmissionalso: the act of depositing something at such a place made the drop

left the package at the drop

the distance from a higher to a lower level or through which something drops a steep drop

It's a twenty-foot drop from the top of the fence.

electrical engineering a decrease in electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2b)

a slot into which something is to be dropped

[drop entry 2] something that drops, hangs, or falls: such as

a movable plate that covers the keyhole of a lock

an unframed piece of cloth stage sceneryalso: drop curtain

a hinged platform on a gallows

a fallen fruit

the advantage of having an opponent covered (see cover entry 1 sense 1b(2)) with a firearmbroadly: advantage, superiority —usually used in the phrase get the drop on

waiting to get the drop on me

a move back from the line of scrimmage (as in preparation for making a forward pass)

a quick drop

verb

intransitive verb

to fall in drops

to fall (see fall entry 1 sense 1a) unexpectedly or suddenly

The book dropped from her hand.

to fall in a state of collapse (see collapse entry 2 sense 1b) or death

dropped from exhaustion

of a playing card to become played by reason of the obligation to follow suit

to fall or roll into a hole or basket

to enter or pass as if without conscious effort of will (see will entry 2 sense 4a) into some state, condition, or activity

dropped into sleep

to cease to be of concern : lapse

let the matter drop

to pass from view or notice : disappear—often used with out

drop out of sight

to become less—often used with off

production dropped

nautical to move with a favoring wind or current—usually used with down

We dropped down the harbor.

informal to be released to the public The second Podcast drops Nov. 14 and can be downloaded free …—Langston Wertz, Jr. There's also something to be said for jumping on a subscription for a month or two, say when a big, new game drops.—Adam Rosenberg

His latest solo album dropped in August …—Ed Rampell

transitive verb

to let fall : cause to fall dropping bombs on the city

dropped the ball

give up sense 2, abandon drop the charges

drop an idea

discontinue

dropped what she was doing

to break off an association or connection with : dismiss was dropped by his sponsors students who dropped the class

drop her old friends

to utter or mention in a casual way drop names

drop a suggestion

write

drop us a line soon

to lower or cause to descend from one level or position to another drop the water level

drop the hem two inches

to cause to lessen or decrease : reduce

dropped his speed

of an animal to give birth to

lose dropped $50 in a poker game

dropped three games

spend

drop $20 for lunch

to get rid of

dropped 20 pounds

to bring down with a shot or a blow dropping the world champion in the ring

dropped the buck with one shot

card games to cause a cardholder to unwillingly play (a high card)

dropped her ace

to toss or roll into a hole or basket

drop a putt

to deposit or deliver during a usually brief stop—usually used with off

drop the kids off at school

air-drop

drop the supplies to the medical team

to cause (the voice) to be less loud

linguistics to leave (a letter representing a speech sound) unsounded

drop the g in running

to leave out in writing : omit

accidentally dropped a whole line

to draw from an external point

drop a perpendicular to the line

to take (a drug) orally : swallow

drop acid

computers to place (an item on a computer screen) in one location in a graphical user interface after dragging it from another … you get a handy graphical representation of all your tasks and can even drag and drop them from one list to another …—Jack Wallen

Move the video to the desired location and release the mouse button to drop the file …—Techsling

noun

the quantity of fluid that falls in one spherical mass

a drop of rain

a minute quantity or degree of something nonmaterial or intangible

not a drop of meanness in her

a small quantity of drink

hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in three years

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something that resembles a liquid drop: such as

a pendent ornament attached to a piece of jewelryalso: an earring with such a pendant

a small globular cookie or candy

sucking on lemon drops

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a sudden, short drop in an elevator

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in demand

His income took a sudden drop.

a descent by parachutealso: the people or equipment dropped by parachute

expecting another drop this week

a place or central depository to which something (such as mail, money, or stolen property) is brought for distribution or transmissionalso: the act of depositing something at such a place made the drop

left the package at the drop

the distance from a higher to a lower level or through which something drops a steep drop

It's a twenty-foot drop from the top of the fence.

electrical engineering a decrease in electric potential (see potential entry 2 sense 2b)

a slot into which something is to be dropped

[drop entry 2] something that drops, hangs, or falls: such as

a movable plate that covers the keyhole of a lock

an unframed piece of cloth stage sceneryalso: drop curtain

a hinged platform on a gallows

a fallen fruit

the advantage of having an opponent covered (see cover entry 1 sense 1b(2)) with a firearmbroadly: advantage, superiority —usually used in the phrase get the drop on

waiting to get the drop on me

a move back from the line of scrimmage (as in preparation for making a forward pass)

a quick drop

verb

intransitive verb

to fall in drops

to fall (see fall entry 1 sense 1a) unexpectedly or suddenly

The book dropped from her hand.

to fall in a state of collapse (see collapse entry 2 sense 1b) or death

dropped from exhaustion

of a playing card to become played by reason of the obligation to follow suit

to fall or roll into a hole or basket

to enter or pass as if without conscious effort of will (see will entry 2 sense 4a) into some state, condition, or activity

dropped into sleep

to cease to be of concern : lapse

let the matter drop

to pass from view or notice : disappear—often used with out

drop out of sight

to become less—often used with off

production dropped

nautical to move with a favoring wind or current—usually used with down

We dropped down the harbor.

informal to be released to the public The second Podcast drops Nov. 14 and can be downloaded free …—Langston Wertz, Jr. There's also something to be said for jumping on a subscription for a month or two, say when a big, new game drops.—Adam Rosenberg

His latest solo album dropped in August …—Ed Rampell

transitive verb

to let fall : cause to fall dropping bombs on the city

dropped the ball

give up sense 2, abandon drop the charges

drop an idea

discontinue

dropped what she was doing

to break off an association or connection with : dismiss was dropped by his sponsors students who dropped the class

drop her old friends

to utter or mention in a casual way drop names

drop a suggestion

write

drop us a line soon

to lower or cause to descend from one level or position to another drop the water level

drop the hem two inches

to cause to lessen or decrease : reduce

dropped his speed

of an animal to give birth to

lose dropped $50 in a poker game

dropped three games

spend

drop $20 for lunch

to get rid of

dropped 20 pounds

to bring down with a shot or a blow dropping the world champion in the ring

dropped the buck with one shot

card games to cause a cardholder to unwillingly play (a high card)

dropped her ace

to toss or roll into a hole or basket

drop a putt

to deposit or deliver during a usually brief stop—usually used with off

drop the kids off at school

air-drop

drop the supplies to the medical team

to cause (the voice) to be less loud

linguistics to leave (a letter representing a speech sound) unsounded

drop the g in running

to leave out in writing : omit

accidentally dropped a whole line

to draw from an external point

drop a perpendicular to the line

to take (a drug) orally : swallow

drop acid

computers to place (an item on a computer screen) in one location in a graphical user interface after dragging it from another … you get a handy graphical representation of all your tasks and can even drag and drop them from one list to another …—Jack Wallen

Move the video to the desired location and release the mouse button to drop the file …—Techsling

吊球

Noun and Verb Middle English, from Old English dropa; akin to Old High German tropfo drop

The first known use of drop was before the 12th century

drop1 of 2noun

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

plural a dose of medicine measured by drops

eye drops

a small quantity of drink

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in prices

a drop in water pressure

a descent by parachute

a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up

the distance through which something drops

an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater

advantage sense 1

we've got the drop on them

drop2 of 2verb

to fall or let fall in drops

to let fall : cause to fall

dropped the book

to reduce to a lower level or stage

dropped his speed

send sense 1

drop me a line

to stop doing, using, or considering dropped everything and ran to the door you can drop that idea

drop the subject

to knock or shoot down

to go lower

prices dropped

to make a brief visit

drop in for a chat

to pass into a less active state

drop off to sleep

to move downward or with a current

to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded

drop the "g" in "running"

to give birth to

the cow dropped her calf

informal to be released to the public

her new album just dropped

drop1 of 2noun

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

plural a dose of medicine measured by drops

eye drops

a small quantity of drink

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in prices

a drop in water pressure

a descent by parachute

a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up

the distance through which something drops

an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater

advantage sense 1

we've got the drop on them

drop2 of 2verb

to fall or let fall in drops

to let fall : cause to fall

dropped the book

to reduce to a lower level or stage

dropped his speed

send sense 1

drop me a line

to stop doing, using, or considering dropped everything and ran to the door you can drop that idea

drop the subject

to knock or shoot down

to go lower

prices dropped

to make a brief visit

drop in for a chat

to pass into a less active state

drop off to sleep

to move downward or with a current

to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded

drop the "g" in "running"

to give birth to

the cow dropped her calf

informal to be released to the public

her new album just dropped

drop1 of 2noun

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

plural a dose of medicine measured by drops

eye drops

a small quantity of drink

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in prices

a drop in water pressure

a descent by parachute

a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up

the distance through which something drops

an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater

advantage sense 1

we've got the drop on them

drop2 of 2verb

to fall or let fall in drops

to let fall : cause to fall

dropped the book

to reduce to a lower level or stage

dropped his speed

send sense 1

drop me a line

to stop doing, using, or considering dropped everything and ran to the door you can drop that idea

drop the subject

to knock or shoot down

to go lower

prices dropped

to make a brief visit

drop in for a chat

to pass into a less active state

drop off to sleep

to move downward or with a current

to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded

drop the "g" in "running"

to give birth to

the cow dropped her calf

informal to be released to the public

her new album just dropped

drop1 of 2noun

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

plural a dose of medicine measured by drops

eye drops

a small quantity of drink

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in prices

a drop in water pressure

a descent by parachute

a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up

the distance through which something drops

an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater

advantage sense 1

we've got the drop on them

drop2 of 2verb

to fall or let fall in drops

to let fall : cause to fall

dropped the book

to reduce to a lower level or stage

dropped his speed

send sense 1

drop me a line

to stop doing, using, or considering dropped everything and ran to the door you can drop that idea

drop the subject

to knock or shoot down

to go lower

prices dropped

to make a brief visit

drop in for a chat

to pass into a less active state

drop off to sleep

to move downward or with a current

to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded

drop the "g" in "running"

to give birth to

the cow dropped her calf

informal to be released to the public

her new album just dropped

drop1 of 2noun

the quantity of fluid that falls naturally in one rounded mass

plural a dose of medicine measured by drops

eye drops

a small quantity of drink

the smallest practical unit of liquid measure

something (as a hanging ornament on jewelry or a round candy) shaped like a drop

the act or an instance of dropping : fall

a decline in quantity or quality a drop in prices

a drop in water pressure

a descent by parachute

a place where something (as mail or goods) is left to be picked up

the distance through which something drops

an unframed piece of cloth scenery in a theater

advantage sense 1

we've got the drop on them

drop2 of 2verb

to fall or let fall in drops

to let fall : cause to fall

dropped the book

to reduce to a lower level or stage

dropped his speed

send sense 1

drop me a line

to stop doing, using, or considering dropped everything and ran to the door you can drop that idea

drop the subject

to knock or shoot down

to go lower

prices dropped

to make a brief visit

drop in for a chat

to pass into a less active state

drop off to sleep

to move downward or with a current

to leave (a letter standing for a speech sound) unsounded

drop the "g" in "running"

to give birth to

the cow dropped her calf

informal to be released to the public

her new album just dropped