drop
Preserved but no longer current.
"to DROP an acquaintance," to relinquish a connexion, is very polite slang. DROPPING is distinguished from cutting by being done gradually and almost imperceptibly, whereas cutting has outward and visible signs which may be unpleasantly resented. To "DROP money" at any form of speculation or gambling, is to lose it.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “drop” mean?
"to DROP an acquaintance," to relinquish a connexion, is very polite slang. DROPPING is distinguished from cutting by being done gradually and almost imperceptibly, whereas cutting has outward and visible signs which may be unpleasantly resented. To "DROP money" at any form of speculation or gambling, is to lose it.
Is “drop” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.