Meaning
- To pay a brief, casual, and usually unannounced visit to someone or somewhere.
Today's Sentences
01
Drop by anytime.
Situation
Thanks for hosting dinner.
It was nice to catch up over food and drinks.
Let’s plan another evening together!
Definitely.
Drop by anytime!
02
I thought I’d drop by.
Situation
I noticed that you just moved in.
Yes, we’re still unpacking.
I thought I’d drop by.
I baked a pie to welcome you.
That’s so sweet!
Thank you for coming to say hi.
Writer's Note
Places you may "drop by" refers to locations you might make a quick, casual visit to, usually for a brief chat or to pick up something without needing to plan ahead. These places could be a friend's house, a local coffee shop, the grocery store on the way home, a coworker's desk, a nearby park, a bakery for a treat, or a community center depending on your routine and where you are located.
"Drop by" is a phrasal verb that can be used as an intransitive and inseparable verb.
- Intransitive - It does not need an object.
Example 1: Could you drop by the store for eggs?
Example 2: I’ll drop by your office later. - Inseperable - You cannot split it with an object, because there is no object.
Example 1: Why don’t you drop by sometime?
Example 2: He dropped by yesterday to say hi. - Incorrect Usage:
Example 1: ❌ I’ll drop your house by.
Example 2: ❌ She dropped the shop by.
These are grammatically incorrect — object can’t go in the middle.
Related Words: Come by, drop in, call, call in, pop in, step in, visit, pay a brief visit.