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fall off

A2 neutral inseparable intransitive
In simple words

To drop off something you are on, or to get smaller or worse.

Literal meaning: To fall away from the surface of something, detaching and dropping.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To accidentally drop from a surface, vehicle, or object one was on or attached to.

"One of the tiles fell off the roof during the storm and smashed on the pavement below."

Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 idiomatic neutral

To decrease in quantity, quality, or level.

"Ticket sales have really fallen off since the venue raised its prices."

Grammar: inseparable
3 A2 neutral

To become detached from something it was fixed to.

"The door handle fell off when I tried to open it — the screws must have rusted through."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

In its physical sense, very common and transparent ('fall off a bike'). In its figurative sense, describes declining numbers, quality, or interest. Both senses are very common across all registers.

Commonly used with

bike wall cliff sales quality interest production attendance

Forms

Base
fall off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
falls off
he/she/it
Past simple
fell off
yesterday
Past participle
fallen off
have + pp
-ing form
falling off
continuous

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Synonyms

drop off decline decrease diminish detach come off

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