dropping



drop a bollock

vulgar slang To mess something up; to make a particularly egregious error. Primarily heard in UK. That new intern is totally useless, he's always dropping a bollock on important projects. That player really dropped a bollock during the match yesterday.
See also: bollock, drop

drop a brick

1. To unintentionally say or do something embarrassing, tactless, or indiscreet; to commit some social faux pas or mistake. Primarily heard in UK. I dropped a brick on our first date by ordering veal, only realizing later that he's a staunch animal rights advocate.
2. To announce a particularly surprising, alarming, or upsetting piece of news. An alternative form of "drop a bombshell." Primarily heard in US, South Africa. Mary dropped a brick when she told me she was moving to France next week. I'm about to drop a brick on my parents by telling them that I'm going to quit law school and pursue a career in art.
See also: brick, drop

drop anchor

To let down the anchor to secure a ship. We've been sailing all day, and here seems like a good enough spot to drop anchor, don't you think?
See also: anchor, drop

drop (one) a line

To contact someone, usually with a letter, note, or phone call. I know you'll be busy enjoying yourself, but please, drop me a line on your trip. I'll drop you a line once I get settled in at school.
See also: drop, line

drop like flies

To succumb to a particular problem, often an illness. This phrase is typically only used when more than one person has been adversely affected. Now that the flu is going through our school, people are dropping like flies.
See also: drop, flies, like

drop the mic

1. To dramatically drop one's microphone (or, often, to mimic such a motion) after a particularly decisive or impressive performance, action, or statement. Did you see him drop the mic after that rap battle?
2. By extension, to perform a decisive or impressive action. Dude just dropped the mic with that dunk!
See also: drop, mic

Constant dropping wears away a stone,

 and Constant dripping wears away a stone.
Prov. Persistence accomplishes things. Jill: How did you get Fred to give you a raise? Jane: I just kept asking him for it every week. Constant dropping wears away a stone.
See also: away, dropping, stone, wear

drop like flies

Fig. to faint, sicken, collapse, or die, in great numbers like houseflies dying in a large group. It was a terrible year for the flu. People were dropping like flies.
See also: drop, flies, like

be dropping like flies

if people are dropping like flies, large numbers of them are dying or becoming ill or injured within a short period of time The heat was overwhelming and people were dropping like flies.
See also: dropping, flies, like

drop a brick

Also, drop a clanger. Say something indiscreet, commit a social gaffe. For example, John dropped a brick when he called her by his ex-wife's name. [Slang; 1920s]
See also: brick, drop

drop like flies

Rapidly collapse, die, or drop out, usually referring to a group rather than an individual. For example, The words were so difficult that the spelling bee contestants were dropping like flies. The simile like flies has meant "in large numbers," as it does in this expression, since about 1600.
See also: drop, flies, like

drop a brick

and drop a bomb(shell)
tv. to reveal startling information. Britney came in and dropped a brick that scared us all. She dropped a bombshell when she told us she was married again.
See also: brick, drop

drop a brick

Informal
To make a clumsy social error.
See also: brick, drop

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
AgnÈSan-YES (French) French, Catalan
AbnerAB-nər (English)English, Biblical, Biblical Latin
Mared-Welsh
MichealMIE-kəlEnglish
Widogast-Ancient Germanic
ReillyRIE-leeEnglish (Modern)