Drop by means to pay someone a short, casual visit, usually without arranging it in advance. People use it for quick visits to friends and neighbours, or for stopping at an office or shop on the way somewhere: drop by for a coffee.
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drop by (+ place); drop by + someone's place/the office; drop by for + a coffee/a chat; drop by to + verb
- If you're near the library later, drop by and I'll give you my notes.
- My sister dropped by for a coffee on her way home from work.
- Could you drop by the office tomorrow to sign the contract?
What changed
First versionIf you're free after work, drop by to me for a cup of tea.
RevisionIf you're free after work, drop by my place for a cup of tea.
It can seem logical to name the person you're visiting with to me. But when you talk about visiting, the place comes straight after drop by: my place, the office, the shop. So to me was replaced with my place.
Drop in means almost the same, but it's built differently. You drop in on a person: I dropped in on my aunt. You drop in at a place: drop in at the bakery. With drop by, the place comes straight after, with no preposition: drop by the bakery.
Your turn
I'll ___ your flat on my way home and return the umbrella I borrowed.
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drop by — You'll stop at the flat on your way home, and the gap is followed directly by a place, your flat. That's drop by. Drop off is used for things or people you deliver somewhere: I'll drop off your umbrella. You can't say drop off your flat.
Invite a friend to stop by for a short visit. Use drop by, name the day and say what you'll give them.
Drop by on Saturday morning and I'll give you the camping tent you asked about.
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