drop-in, n. and a.
[drop v. 27.]
A. n.
1. An unexpected or casual visit or visitor. colloq.
| 1819 Metropolis I. 234 D-s-y gave us a drop in for a few minutes, just long enough to be perceived. 1942 Berrey & Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §363/5 Drop-in, happen-in, a chance social call. 1970 M. Millar Beyond this Point (1971) iii. 32 Some of the people were drop-ins who had no real interest in the case. |
2. (See quot. 1940.) U.S. slang.
| 1937 D. Runyon in Collier's Weekly 16 Jan. 9/3 Nicely-Nicely commences to figure this is about as soft a drop-in as anybody can wish. 1940 Amer. Speech XV. 117/2 Drop-in, something which is easy; easy money. So-called because a fat mark may sometimes ‘drop in’ to a confidence-game without being steered. |
3. A place or function at which one may drop in casually: see drop v. 27 b. colloq. (chiefly U.S.).
| 1948 Lait & Mortimer New York: Confidential! v. 48 Many of the furnished rooms..provide drop-ins for youths..seeking..marijuana revels. 1970 Guardian Weekly 21 Feb. 20 Alice's Restaurant, a drop-in for dropouts. 1974 Belton (S. Carolina) News 18 Apr. 1/5 Upstairs, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a drop-in for patrons of the library. The public is invited and urged to attend. 1979 ‘A. Hailey’ Overload iv. ii. 299 This evening she had promised to go to two parties, one a ‘drop in’, early. |
B. adj.
1. Designed to drop into position; spec. of a seat (see quot. 1960).
| 1921 Spectator 16 Apr. 485/2 Above this French window is a drop-in fanlight. 1960 A. Quinton in G. Lewis Handbk. Crafts 232 Any type of ‘drop-in’ seat: i.e. one which can be lifted from its frame and has no springs. 1962 L. S. Sasieni Princ. Optical Dispensing viii. 195 There are three main types of these supplementary fronts: ‘clip-on’ fronts, ‘grab’ fronts, and ‘drop-in’ fronts. |
2. At which one may ‘drop in’ (see drop v. 27 b). colloq.
| 1958 Listener 27 Nov. 860/1 Mr. Walter Reuther's United Auto Workers runs night schools, ‘drop-in’ centres for retired members, recreation halls. 1962 Guardian 24 July 5/1 We were entertained..by the Federation of Lace Makers to a drop-in (bar ouvert toute la journée) view of the laces used in the show. |