use of the word "dropped"?

[tbeltrans]

Over the past month or two, I have noticed a new use of the word "dropped" that makes no sense to me.

If I read that a certain manufacturer has dropped a certain product, I would interpret that to mean that the manufacturer no longer makes the product.

Instead, it seems that "dropped" now means something along the lines of introducing a new product. Now, I read that a manufacturer has dropped a new line of synthesizers, T-shirts, or whatever, and that means the manufacturer has introduced the new product line instead of meaning that the manufacturer no longer makes and markets that product line.

I am confused, and maybe this is me misinterpreting what I am reading. If I had seen this only once, I would think it was a misprint, since I have been seeing more typos being left in published copy in recent years too. However, I am seeing this use with increasing frequency. Does anybody here know anything about this?

Tony

[HHP]

I've heard that usage for a long time. Sort of related to the use in "drop me a line" or drop a hint" or "drop by". Use was more widespread in software circles.

[cotten]

A few years ago, I was talking with a recording artist. As we talked, he mentioned that he had dropped a new CD. I asked him if it broke, and he burst out with a full belly laugh! I had no idea what was so funny, till he explained. I still suspect he was high at the time...

cotten

[Mr. Jelly]

Language is fluid. And confusing

[fazool]

good things were "cool"
now good things are "hot"

Which is the exact opposite.

Huey Lewis sang "sometimes 'bad' is 'bad'"

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by HHP

I've heard that usage for a long time. Sort of related to the use in "drop me a line" or drop a hint" or "drop by". Use was more widespread in software circles.

Interesting observation about software circles. I have been a software engineer for almost 30 years, and never heard the word used in that way. I have heard the three "drop" phrases you quoted though.

I realized that software is a big world, and engineering is a very small part of it, despite the looseness with which the term "engineer" is applied these days.

I don't doubt that the long term use of "dropped" in ways new to me though. Thanks for the info.

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by fazool

good things were "cool"
now good things are "hot"

Which is the exact opposite.

Huey Lewis sang "sometimes 'bad' is 'bad'"

Yes..."sick" is another one that is now supposed to mean REALLY good.

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by cotten

A few years ago, I was talking with a recording artist. As we talked, he mentioned that he had dropped a new CD. I asked him if it broke, and he burst out with a full belly laugh! I had no idea what was so funny, till he explained. I still suspect he was high at the time...

cotten

That would have been my response and suspicion too. Maybe we are just getting too old for this "new world".

Tony

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly

Language is fluid. And confusing

...and I am probably swimming upstream trying to understand it.

Tony

[Larry Pattis]

Yeah, well, stuff burns up, and the same stuff burns down.

Uhm, flammable and inflammable are the same thing.

Also, I drive on the parkway and park on the driveway.

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Larry Pattis

Yeah, well, stuff burns up, and the same stuff burns down.

Uhm, flammable and inflammable are the same thing.

Also, I drive on the parkway and park on the driveway.

My wife and I volunteer teach ESL twice a week, and it is interesting to come to realize how difficult the English language is to learn if one didn't grow up speaking it.

Tony

[Brucebubs]

Why does the word 'phonetic' start with the letters 'ph' and not 'f'?

[tbeltrans]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Why does the word 'phonetic' start with the letters 'ph' and not 'f'?

Probably for the same reason the QWERTY keyboard exists- if it was too easy...



Tony

[SpiderTrap]

Proof of a Dummied down society is constant use of the word " actually "
It's a filler word and means nothing .

[dekutree64]

The recent usage may come from "drop the bass" in dubstep music. It makes some sort of sense in that context due to bass being low frequency. Once people got used to that, "drop" became somewhat synonymous with "introduce".