A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

driving test • test drive
driving test—an examination of a person’s ability to drive a
car: What is wanted is a more radical reform in the driving
test calculated to lift the standard of roadcraft.
test drive —a drive in a car one thinks of buying, etc. to
judge its qualities: Before signing a satisfaction note inspect
the vehicle carefully and, if possible, take it for a test drive.
drop a bomb • drop bombs
drop a bomb —(also: drop the bomb) create a sensation: Mac-
intosh users have been waiting for a fast, stable, operating sys-
tem. Apple has really dropped the bomb in this area.
drop bombs —( Jazz drummers) place accents in music using
the foot pedal of a bass drum: Joe Jones? He was the first
drummer to drop bombs.
drop a bundle • drop one’s bundle
drop a bundle —(sl.) lose or spend a large amount of money:
Over the years, I’ve dropped a bundle on clients at that restau-
rant. Cf.: make a bundle —(sl.) make a lot of money: If someone
had helped you get started like that, you’d have made a bundle
on the stock market too.
drop one’s bundle —(Austral., NZ sl.) 
1
. lose nerve; give up
hope: Meg has had enough. Feeling unappreciated she drops
her bundle and demands a few days off. 2. (of a woman) give
birth: She’ll switch between jobs, pay off her mortgage, maybe
drop her bundle, and be hell-bent on a comfortable retire-
ment…
drop a dime • penny drops, the
drop a dime —(U.S. sl.) give information about a person
or a situation discreetly (making a phone call): You’d better
tell her the truth — someone’s bound to drop a dime if you
lie.
penny drops, the —(UK coll.) said when a person finally un-
derstands smth.: I sat and thought for a moment and then the
penny dropped.
drop a hint • give a hint
drop a hint—give a slight or indirect indication or sugges-
tion: I’ll just drop her a hint not to be surprised at anything
she sees.
give a hint—
1
. = drop a hint: She gave him a hint that she
would like him to leave. 2. (of things) foretell the coming of
smth.; be the harbinger: A small black cloud gave a hint of a
coming storm.