drop-off

American  

[drop-awf, -of] / ˈdrɒpˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

noun

1. a vertical or very steep descent.

   The trail has a drop-off of several hundred feet.

2. a decline; decrease.

   Sales have shown a considerable drop-off this year.

3. a place where a person or thing can be left, received, accommodated, etc..

   a new drop-off for outpatients.

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adjective

1. applied when a rented vehicle is left elsewhere than at the point of hire.

   to pay a drop-off charge.

drop off British  

verb

1. (intr) to grow smaller or less; decline

2. (tr) to allow to alight; set down

3. informal (intr) to fall asleep

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noun

1. a steep or vertical descent

2. a sharp decrease

drop off Idioms  

1. Fall asleep, as in When I looked at Grandma, she had dropped off . [Early 1800s]

2. Decrease; also, become less frequent. For example, Sales have dropped off markedly , or Over the year her visits dropped off . [Early 1800s]

3. Deliver, unload, as in Bill dropped off the package at the office .

4. Die, as in He is so ill he could drop off any time . [Early 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of drop-off

First recorded in 1955–60; noun, adj. use of verb phrase drop off

Example Sentences

Beyond those three titles, the drop-off is steep.

From Los Angeles Times

Not only have the goals dried up since last scoring from open play against West Ham over a month ago, but there is a drop-off in many attacking metrics.

From BBC

Up above them, the ground ended with a six foot drop-off into the water.

From Literature

Over the next several months, executives at Thinking Machines witnessed a drop-off in Zoph’s job performance, according to people familiar with the situation.

From The Wall Street Journal

For a list of the drop-off points across Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset, visit the BBC Radio Solent Make a Difference page here.

From BBC

Related Words

• diminish
• dwindle
• fall away
• fall off
• lessen
• sag
• slacken