fall off

become less in amount, quality, or strength

B2

What does "fall off" mean?

To fall off means that something decreases in amount, level, or quality — often noticeably or over a period of time. It is typically used with abstract subjects that represent something measurable, such as sales, demand, attendance, or quality. The phrase is common in business, journalism, and everyday conversations about trends or performance. What makes it distinctive is the sense of a real, sustained drop rather than just a minor or temporary dip. You will often see it paired with adverbs like 'sharply' or 'dramatically' to emphasise how significant the decline has been.

Examples

How to use it

subject (abstract noun) + fall off

The thing that decreases is always the subject — never the object — because this phrasal verb is intransitive and takes no object.

Demand for the product has fallen off considerably over the past year.

subject + fall off + adverb

Adverbs of degree or manner are very commonly added to show how much something has decreased.

Audience numbers fell off dramatically after the show was moved to a later time slot.

subject + fall off + in + noun phrase

A prepositional phrase with 'in' can specify which aspect has declined.

The team's performance has fallen off in recent months.

subject + fall off + since / after + time expression

A time clause or phrase is often added to indicate when the decline began.

Subscriptions have fallen off sharply since the price increase was announced.

Common Collocations

sales have fallen offattendance has fallen offdemand has fallen offinterest has fallen offquality has fallen offbusiness has fallen off

Common Mistakes

Using a direct object

Because 'fall off' in this sense is intransitive, it cannot take a direct object. The thing that decreases must be the subject of the sentence, not the object.

✗ The company fell off its sales in Q3.
✓ Sales fell off in Q3.
Confusing with the physical sense

If the subject is a concrete object that can physically detach from a surface (a button, a sign, a shelf), 'fall off' describes physical detachment, not decrease. In the decrease sense, the subject is always an abstract, measurable noun like demand, quality, or attendance.

Confusing with 'drop off'

'Drop off' can mean the same thing as 'fall off' in this sense and the two are often interchangeable, but 'drop off' is slightly more informal and also has completely different meanings (to deliver someone somewhere, or to fall asleep), so check the context carefully.

✗ I dropped off to sleep — sales have really dropped off. (ambiguous without context)
✓ Sales have really fallen off. / Sales have really dropped off. (both correct in a business context)

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works well in both spoken and written English, especially in business and journalism. It is very commonly used with adverbs like 'sharply' or 'dramatically' to show how much something has decreased.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can 'fall off' be used in the passive, like 'profits were fallen off'?

No — 'fall off' cannot be used in the passive in this sense. Because it is intransitive and has no object, there is nothing to become the subject of a passive sentence. Always use it in the active voice, with the thing that decreases as the subject: 'Profits have fallen off.'

Can I say 'sales will fall off next quarter'?

It is possible, but it sounds slightly unnatural. When talking about future decline, it is more common to use a verb like 'decline' or 'drop': 'Sales are expected to decline next quarter.' In the present perfect or past simple, 'fall off' sounds very natural.

What kinds of things can 'fall off' in this sense?

The subject is almost always an abstract noun that represents something measurable — for example, sales, demand, attendance, quality, profits, enthusiasm, support, or ratings. People are not typically used as the subject in this sense.

What does 'fall off a cliff' mean? Is it the same as 'fall off'?

In business journalism, 'fall off a cliff' is an intensified, informal version meaning something has declined extremely sharply and suddenly — far more dramatically than a regular 'fall off'. It is increasingly common but is figurative, so use it carefully in formal writing.

Does 'fall off' always suggest a permanent decline, or can it be temporary?

'Fall off' typically implies a notable or sustained drop, but it does not necessarily mean permanent. It is used when the decrease is significant enough to be worth mentioning. If you want to emphasise that a dip is only temporary, it is usually clearer to add a phrase like 'temporarily' or use a different verb such as 'dip'.

Related Phrasal Verbs

drop off
taper off

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