drop by — visit briefly
phrasal verbB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon
To visit someone or somewhere for a short time, usually without planning ahead.
Say it like a native
Textbook I shall make a brief visitation later this afternoon.
Native I'll drop by later.
'Make a visitation' is archaic; 'drop by' is the casual 'pop in' verb.
Pattern: drop by (somewhere/someone's place)
In use
- I might drop by your office after lunch if I have time.daily life
- If I have some free time after work, I usually drop by my grandmother’s house to check on her.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ I'll drop by to your office.
✓ I'll drop by your office.
'Drop by + place' directly — no 'to'.
Common collocations
drop by— later, the office, for a chat, after work
Don't confuse it
'Drop in' is similar, but 'drop by' often emphasizes the shortness and casualness of the visit.