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drop out

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drop out

 (of something)

1. . Lit. to fall out of something. One by one, the skydivers dropped out of the plane. The marshmallows dropped out of the bag.

2. Lit. or Fig. [for the bottom of something] to break loose and drop. The bottom dropped out of the box, spilling everything everywhere. The bottom dropped out of the stock market, and we lost a lot of money.

3. Fig. [for someone] to resign from or cease being a member of something; [for someone] to leave school. Sally dropped out of school for some unknown reason. But why did she drop out?

See also: drop, out

drop out (of something)

to stop doing something He dropped out of school when he was 16. She dropped out the night before the race, saying she had an injury.

See also: drop, out

drop out

Withdraw from participation in a group such as a school, club, or game; also, withdraw from society owing to disillusionment. For example, He couldn't afford the membership dues and had to drop out, or She planned to drop out from college for a year. [Late 1800s]

See also: drop, out

drop out

v.

1. To fall out of something: My card must have dropped out of the bag at some point.

2. To make or let something or someone fall out of something: I dropped the stones out of the window.

3. To withdraw from participation in something, as a game, club, or school: The committee is trying to determine why so many students were dropping out. I dropped out of algebra because it was too hard. I dropped history out of my schedule this term.

4. To withdraw from established society, especially due to disillusionment with conventional values: My cousin dropped out and moved to the tropics.

5. To omit something: This computer drops out the semicolons. The old stereo drops the bass out.

6. To be omitted: When words are contracted, some sounds or letters drop out.

See also: drop, out

drop out

1. in. to withdraw from a conventional lifestyle. Sometimes I just want to drop out and raise pigs or something.

2. in. to drop out of school or some organization. Don’t drop out of school. You’ll regret it.

3. and dropout n. someone who has dropped out of school. Dropouts may find it very hard to get a job.

See also: drop, out