Date: Mon, 7 Oct 1996 12:20:48 -0400

From: "Dale F.Coye" CoyeCFAT[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Re: drop off



Dennis-



Now I find myself flipping through the entire lexicon trying to figure out

what I can and can't say... take off, take down, put off, put down, get down,

pipe down... You ask about:



the parent would be expected to drop off and go back home



When I think about it, I would normally say "Drop them off" but I guess

intransitive "drop off," though not the usual construction, is comparable to

pick up:



When shall I pick them up?

What time is pick up?

When shall I pick up?



None of which get the asterisk for me.



However, in a different construction, I've got a friend from California who

makes me shudder every time she says:



Do your kids want to come with?



Where I would say,



Do they want to come with us?



Maybe German influence from mitkommen- Kommen die Kinder mit?



Also consider...To everything there is a season...A time to drop off and a

time to pick up.



Dale Coye

Princeton, NJ