drop across

drop across (someone or something)

1. To fall on and splay across someone or something. The garland fell and dropped across the lower branches of the Christmas tree. A: "What happened to the 'Congratulations' banner? Oh, it dropped across a few of the cubicles." B: "When you hang it back up, really secure it this time, huh?" The kids couldn't stop giggling when the crepe paper suddenly fell and dropped across the birthday girl.

2. To fall (or to place down), either across a gap or blocking something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "drop" and "across." The tree dropped across the road, blocking traffic for hours. Drop that towel across the spill until we can find a mop. We wouldn't normally drop a barricade across our street, but we're having a block party today.

See also: across, drop

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

drop something across something

to let something fall in such a way that a span is bridged; to let something fall in such a way that a pathway is blocked. Let's drop a little rug across the threshold. They dropped a huge boulder across the road so no one could pass.

See also: across, drop

drop across someone or something

[for something long or wide] to fall on and lay on someone or something. A snake dropped across the hood of the tourist bus as it passed under a tree. As I lay sleeping, a ceiling panel dropped across me and woke me up.

See also: across, drop

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.