laisse tomber
In French, "drop it" is translated as laisse tomber.
This phrase is used to tell someone to stop talking about a specific subject or to give up on an idea. While it can be used in an argumentative sense to mean "drop the subject," it is very commonly used to mean "never mind" or "forget it" when a speaker decides a topic is no longer worth explaining.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb laisser (to leave or let) and the infinitive tomber (to fall), literally meaning "leave to fall".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form laisse tomber is informal and is used with friends, family or peers. When addressing someone formally or when speaking to more than one person, use laissez tomber.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes from laisse tomber to laissez tomber depending on whether you are addressing a single person informally or using the formal/plural form.
Did you know?
- In many French-speaking regions, you might hear the slang version laisser béton instead of laisse tomber.
- The word tomber originally meant 'to dance' or 'to do somersaults' in Old French before it came to mean 'to fall'.
- While laisse tomber is used for 'drop it', the French language uses the same verb tomber to describe falling in love (tomber amoureux).
Examples in context
- Laisse tomber !Drop it!This sentence is useful for an imperative command to "drop it".Tatoeba #1973430 by sacredceltic, translation #1972621 by CK
- Veuillez le déposer, s'il vous plaît.Please drop it.
- Merci de le lâcher.Thank you for dropping it.
- Lâche ça.Drop it.
- Balance ça.Chuck it.
- Hé, lâche cette balle, s'il te plaît!Hey, drop that ball, please!
- Laisse tomber cette idée, c'est impossible.Drop that idea, it is impossible.
- Si tu ne veux pas m'écouter, laisse tomber.If you don't want to listen to me, drop it.
Example conversation
Hugo keeps asking Manon about her ex-boyfriend.
- ManonHugo, s'il te plaît, laisse tomber ce sujet.Hugo, please, drop this subject.
- HugoJe veux juste comprendre ce qui s'est passé.I just want to understand what happened.
- ManonJe n'ai plus envie d'en parler.I don't want to talk about it anymore.
- HugoD'accord, je laisse tomber.Okay, I'll drop it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tomber, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
