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3. stop by

stop by

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stop by (some place)

 and stop in (some place)

to visit some place, usually briefly. I was coming home, but I decided to stop by my aunt's on the way. She was very glad that I stopped in.

See also: stop

stop by (somewhere)

also stop in (at somewhere)

to visit a place briefly Stop by on your way home and I'll give you that book. Can you stop in at the courthouse for a minute today?

See also: stop

stop by

Also, stop in. Pay a brief visit, as in I hope you'll stop by this afternoon, or He stopped in at Martha's whenever he came to New York on business. The first term dates from about 1900, the variant from the mid-1800s.

See also: stop

stop by

v.

To interrupt one's course or journey briefly in order to visit or do business somewhere: I stopped by my friend's house on the way home from work. On our way to the party, we need to stop by the store and get a gift. Why don't you stop by sometime for lunch?

See also: stop