Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to drop the idea

to drop the idea

1 3.3
To decide not to continue with a plan or suggestion
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : abandonar la idea
  • After hearing everyone's concerns, we chose to drop the idea of having the event outdoors.

Examples

  • Please drop the idea.

    Webcast (2018)

  • I know now why Gordon suddenly dropped the idea of marriage before he left.

    Strange Interlude (1932)

  • The United States was forced to drop the idea.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Thus, drop the idea of buying a free guide.

    Blog text (26)

  • A little research, however, would have convinced him to drop the idea.

    Blog text (31)

  • She did not respond to that, so we dropped the idea.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • His employee son-in-law keeps at him to drop the idea.

    Blog text (21)

  • "Darcy, I don't usually offer advice to people, even free advice, but I wish you'd drop the idea of answering these ads.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Their weaknesses are the absence of proper support, cooperation, and backup from their own family members and surroundings, forcing them to drop the idea of excelling in the enterprising field.

    Academic text (2018)

  • Likewise, two potential Daneco customers—Springfield, Missouri, and Nantucket, Massachusetts—have dropped the idea.

    Academic text (1995)

Synonyms

to drop
vsto drop the idea
∞ 3.1

To leave out a sound or part of a word

is to decide not to continue with a plan or suggestion
to abandon
vsto drop the idea
401 3.8

Stop supporting an idea or plan

is to choose not to continue with a plan or suggestion
to throw out
vsto drop the idea
163 4.2

To stop considering a case, request, or proposal in court

is a decision to end a plan rather than a formal dismissal
to back away
vsto drop the idea
59 3.9

Stop supporting or taking part in a plan because you feel unsure

is an intentional decision to end the plan, not just hesitation
to shoot down
vsto drop the idea
  • Informal
31 3.8

Say no to an idea or plan in a sudden, strong way

is to stop a plan by choosing not to carry it on
to shelve
vsto drop the idea
11 5.0

To stop work on a plan or project for now

is to decide not to continue the plan at all
to kick into touch
vsto drop the idea
  • UK
8.9

To put a plan aside and often leave it without action

is a clear choice to stop the plan rather than delay it

Antonyms

to embrace
390 3.9

To accept and start to use an idea or way of life

to follow out
1 4.6

Continue an idea or plan until it is finished

How Likely

to keep
∞ 1.0
to reconsider
227 3.7
to drop the idea
1 3.3

Surface Forms

drop the idea infinitive
dropped the idea past
dropped the idea past participle
dropping the idea present participle
drops the idea third person singular

Morphology

drop + the + idea

The sense 'to decide not to continue with a plan or suggestion' is directly derived from combining 'drop' (to dismiss/abandon) with 'idea' (a suggestion or plan). This verb + noun composition is a common, cross-linguistically familiar pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Drop the idea comes from a simple image: imagine holding an idea like a small paper and choosing to drop it and let it fall. Because you 'drop' something when you stop holding or using it, to drop the idea means 'to decide not to continue with a plan'.