Meaning trap
drop off
decrease
To become less in amount, level, or number.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To become less in amount, level, or number.
Another meaning of 'drop off' is 'take and leave'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- Sales usually drop off after the holiday season.study
- According to the chart, the number of visitors drops off sharply in the winter months.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: drop off (no object) / drop off (in [something])
WrongAttendance dropped off down after summer.
RightAttendance dropped off after summer.
'Drop off' already means decrease — don't add 'down'.
Patterndrop off (no object) / drop off (in [something])
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Drop off' is the natural verb for numbers falling; 'experienced a notable decline' is an analyst report.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
drop off + metricsalesdemandsharplyafter
Don't confuse it
Different from 'drop out', which means to quit something.
Related
- drop off (take and leave) — Another meaning of 'drop off' is 'take and leave'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.