1 B1 informal
To sit or lie down heavily and suddenly, often out of tiredness or casualness.
"He plopped down on the couch and switched on the TV."
inseparable
plop down
B1 informal separable transitive/intransitive
To sit or fall down heavily and suddenly, or to place something down carelessly.
In plain English
To drop yourself or something onto a surface in a heavy, casual way — like falling into a sofa.
What does "plop down" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 informal
To put or drop an object down casually or carelessly.
"She plopped her shopping bags down on the kitchen table."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic informal
(Informal) To spend or produce a sum of money suddenly and without hesitation.
"They just plopped down $50,000 for a kitchen renovation."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To make a soft 'plop' sound while going down — like a stone dropping into water.
Actually means
To drop yourself or something onto a surface in a heavy, casual way — like falling into a sofa.
Usage tip
Informal and slightly playful in tone. Often used to describe collapsing onto a sofa or chair after a long day. Can also describe placing an object down with a soft thud.
Words that pair with "plop down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sofa chair couch bag yourself money
How to conjugate "plop down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
plop down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
plops down
he/she/it
Past simple
ploped down
yesterday
Past participle
ploped down
have + pp
-ing form
ploping down
continuous
Hear "plop down" in the wild
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Keep exploring
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