fall off

To drop from something, or become loose and separate from it.

• A button fell off my shirt.
• She fell off her bike yesterday.
• The handle keeps falling off.

How to use it: fall off something (A wheel fell off the cart.)

Similar words: drop off, come off

Common phrases: fall off something, fall off easily, fall off suddenly

To become less in amount, value, or quality.

• Sales fell off last month.
• Interest in the club has fallen off.
• The quality of their food is falling off.

Similar words: decline, decrease, drop, deteriorate

Opposites: increase, improve

Common phrases: fall off sharply, fall off gradually, fall off considerably

To turn a sailing boat so its front points farther away from the wind.

• The boat began to fall off.
• Fall off a little to fill the sail.
• The skipper fell off to avoid the other yacht.

Similar words: bear away, bear off

Opposites: head up

Common phrases: fall off slightly, fall off downwind

To leave the path of good behavior or religious faith.

• Some believers fell off from the faith.
• He warned that temptation could make even faithful people fall off.
• She prayed for those who had fallen off from virtue.

How to use it: fall off from something (He feared that his followers would fall off from the faith.)

Similar words: stray, fall away

Common phrases: fall off spiritually, fall off again