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drop

drop

1 7.1
A large painted curtain lowered onto a stage as a background
  • noun
  • /drɑp/
  • Specialized
: telón
  • -I'll get some of these drop cloths.

Examples

  • Rolled up in a large drop cloth, Gina is asleep on the floor.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • The drop cloth hanging from the scaffolding behind it would work much better.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • It's just that I have a little drop sheet.

  • You give new meaning to the word "drop cloth".

  • Sure, as long as no one throws a drop cloth over me.

  • - That's a lot of money for a drop cloth.

  • Now I wish we could duplicate the drop curtain in every area, but it isn't that easy.

  • The bed was roped in and veiled with a blue plastic drop cloth.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • I wrapped my mattress in a plastic drop cloth, taped it, and threw it out.

    Blog text (3)
  • The stage was beautifully set, framed by a stunning drop that depicted a sunset over the ocean.

Synonyms

theater curtain
vsdrop
  • US
1 2.7

A large heavy cloth that hides the stage and opens or closes for a show

is about a curtain lowered from above used mainly as background scenery
drop curtain
vsdrop
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A large curtain hung above the stage that lowers to make background scenery

is the same meaning but used as the concise main entry form
drop cloth
vsdrop
  • Specialized
4.8

A large curtain that people lower from above to make a background on a stage

is the standard entry name here rather than this variant form

Idioms

to drop the ball
  • Informal
38 6.1

Fail to do something you are responsible for

To tell people shocking news suddenly

15 4.9

A very small amount that does not help with a much larger problem

drop-dead
  • Informal
15 6.7

Very attractive or impressive

13 4.2

Immediately and without delay

9 6.9

A lot of people suddenly fall ill or collapse

6 9.8

To tell the police about someone's crime, often secretly

To suddenly tell people something very surprising that shocks them

to drop a deuce
  • Offensive
4 9.9

To go to the toilet to poop in informal speech

to drop the mic
  • Texting
2 8.8

Finish speaking or performing in a confident, impressive way that needs no reply

2 3.8

A very small amount compared with what is needed

to drop the soap
  • Offensive
2 9.9

Become vulnerable to sexual attack in prison, often used as a grim joke or warning

to drop the f-bomb
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Say the rude word 'fuck', often in a situation where it surprises or offends people

To surprise someone very much

1 8.6

To prepare for a real fight or, informally, to stop fighting and start working together

To fall suddenly to a much lower level

drop in the pond
  • Informal
1 5.8

A very small amount compared with what is needed

drop in the sea
  • Informal
1 5.5

A very small amount compared with what is needed

to drop a bollock
  • Offensive
9.9

To make a serious, embarrassing mistake by being careless

9.9

To let food fall by accident or make an embarrassing mistake

9.7

To use the F-word to shock people

9.7

To suddenly and completely stop supporting something

To suddenly lose control of your feelings because you feel overwhelmed

4.4

Open your mouth wide in surprise

9.9

Suddenly bring up a shocking topic to change the tone of a discussion

A sudden end that causes death or total ruin

Delay acting until an important event happens

Compounds

29 2.2

A place to leave people or things

15 1.7

A small sweet with medicine that helps a sore throat and stops coughing

drop zone
  • Specialized
10 6.0

An area where supplies or soldiers are dropped from a plane by parachute

10 3.9

A sudden decrease in amount, quality or rate

drop-down
  • Specialized
10 3.9

A list of choices that appears below when you click it

9 3.4

A small drop of medicine put into the eye to help it feel better

dead drop
  • Jargon
7 9.3

A secret place where people leave messages or items for others to collect without meeting

drop-down menu
  • Specialized
5 3.2

A list of options that appears below a menu item so you can choose one

4 3.0

A large cloth that you put over floors or furniture during painting

3 1.3

A small hard candy with lemon flavor, usually yellow and shaped like a lemon

3 5.5

A very steep edge of land or rock

drop-in
  • Specialized
3 3.7

Designed to fit and work without changes

2 1.0

A small round piece of water that hangs on leaves after rain

1 3.2

An earring that hangs below the earlobe with a small decoration

1 7.4

A car with a roof that you can fold down or remove

voltage drop
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A loss of electrical pressure when current goes through a wire or part of a circuit

drop shot
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A soft shot in tennis that lands just over the net and drops quickly, hard to reach

drop forge
  • Specialized
1 9.1

A heavy machine that shapes hot metal by dropping a large hammer

mic drop
  • Slang
1 8.0

An impressive ending to a speech or performance that shows nothing more needs saying

1 3.5

A small soft biscuit you make by dropping dough from a spoon and baking

drop bear
  • Australian
1 9.9

A fake dangerous animal Australians joke about that falls from trees onto people to scare tourists

1 7.8

A hinged part of a table you lift to make more space

A table with sides that fold down to save space and lift up to make it larger

A fee you pay for returning a rented car to a different place

1 4.6

A small, thick pancake made by dropping spoonfuls of batter onto a hot pan

drop curtain
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A large curtain hung above the stage that lowers to make background scenery

drop hammer
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A large machine that shapes metal by dropping a heavy weight onto it

drop zone
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A place on a screen where you drag files to upload or move them

potential drop
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The difference in electric voltage between two points in a circuit

drop arch
  • Specialized
8.7

An arch with a gently pointed, shallow curve used in buildings

drop keel
  • Specialized
8.3

A fin under a sailboat that you raise or lower to stop the boat sliding sideways

drop line
  • Jargon
7.5

A headline where each line after the first is indented more to the right

drop cloth
  • Specialized
4.8

A large curtain that people lower from above to make a background on a stage

drop press
  • Specialized
8.8

A machine that shapes metal by dropping a heavy weight onto it

drop-seed
  • Specialized
9.4

A grass with very small seeds that fall off easily

needle drop
  • Jargon
7.9

A moment when a song starts in a film or show that makes the scene more powerful

How Decorative

set
601 6.0
scenery
  • Specialized
23 3.0
backcloth
  • UK
1 8.2
drop
  • Specialized
1 7.1
curtain
339 1.0

Surface Forms

drop singular
drops plural

Etymology

A theatre drop is a large cloth that is let down from above onto the stage, so it is called a drop because it is lowered into place.