25 DROP: 掉落；倒下；将（信件等）寄给某人；卸（客）；空投（物资等）；顺便来到；输掉

词组讲解

1. drop a bombshell 〔bomb〕 ** 发布令人震惊的消息，做出令人吃惊的举动

解 〈口〉习语；词义溯源：空投［炸弹、令人震惊的消息（bombshell, bomb）］

例 The central bank dropped a bombshell today when it announced it had foreign exchange losses totalling more than five million U.S. dollars.

2. drop around 〔by〕 sometime / drop around 〔by〕 *** （某一时间）造访

解 短语动词；词义溯源：某一时间在附近掉进来；参照drop in on sb.

例 Mr. Foley dropped by to say hello, but you weren't here when he visited.

3. drop back *** 退后，退却

解 短语动词；词义溯源：落在［后面（back）］

例 We decided to drop back and let the faster runners get past us.

4. drop dead * 猝死，暴死；（表示蔑视）去你的，走开，别闹

解 俚语；词义溯源：倒下［死亡（dead）］；是一种不礼貌的俚语

例 One minute he was playing tennis, and the next he just dropped dead.

5. drop in on sb. / drop in / drop in to say hello *** 顺便拜访，偶然来访

解 短语动词；词义溯源：［对（on）］某人顺便拜访

例 That's Frank's office there. Let's drop in and say hello if he's there.

6. drop in one's tracks ** 因为疲惫而倒下；突然死亡

解 习语；词义溯源：［当场（in one's tracks）］倒下

例 The company expects us to work until we drop in our tracks from exhaustion.

7. drop off to sleep / drop off ** 入睡

解 习语；词义溯源：掉入［睡眠（sleep）］中；参照drift off to sleep和doze off to sleep

例 I'm sorry. I'm terribly tired and must have dropped off. What were you saying?

8. drop out of sth. / drop out *** 退出；不参加，不出席

解 短语动词；词义溯源：从某事中掉［出来（out）］

例 Russia has threatened to drop out of the NATO alliance.

9. drop sb. a line / drop sb. a few lines ** 给某人写信（通常指短信）

解 习语；词义溯源：把只有［几行字的短信（a line, a few lines）］寄给某人

例 You don't have to write a lengthy letter. Just drop me a line from time to time.

10. drop sb. or sth. off *** 让某人下车；开车顺便送某人到某地；把某物交到某处

解 短语动词；词义溯源：将某人或某物卸［下（off）］

例 Could you drop these books off for me at the library today, dear?

11. drop the ball ** 失球；犯错误

解 习语；词义溯源：输掉了［球（ball）］

例 We were depending on you Charles to get that contract, but you dropped the ball.

12. drop the other shoe ** 扔另一只鞋；做完令人不快的事情

解 习语；词义溯源：扔掉［另一只（other）］［鞋（shoe）］；源于楼下住户为楼上住户脱鞋扔在地上的噪音所苦之事

例 Two weeks ago the company revealed its plan to lay off 3,400 employees. Today it dropped the other shoe and announced the closing of two plants.

参考译文

1. 今天中央银行公布了一个令人震惊的消息：其外汇损失总计超过500万美元。

2. 福利先生来拜访过了，不过当时你不在。

3. 我们决定退后一点，让跑得快的人超过我们。

4. 前一分钟他还在打网球，下一分钟他就突然死了。

5. 那边是弗兰克的办公室。我们顺便拜访一下，看看他在不在。

6. 公司希望我们一直工作，直到累死。

7. 很抱歉。我太累了，肯定是睡着了。你刚才说什么？

8. 俄罗斯威胁要退出北大西洋公约组织。

9. 你没必要写长信。偶尔给我写封短信就行了。

10. 亲爱的，你今天能替我把这些书还给图书馆吗？

11. 查尔斯，我们指望你能拿到那份合同，但是你却犯了错误。

12. 两周前，公司公布了裁员3,400人的计划。今天公司最终宣布关闭两家工厂。