falling off

Verb

fall off (third-person singular simple present falls off, present participle falling off, simple past fell off, past participle fallen off)

1. (intransitive, transitive) To become detached or to drop from.
   • A button fell off my coat.

   Synonyms:

   drop off

2. (intransitive) To diminish in size, value, etc.; to get worse (in quality).
   • Business always falls off in the winter.

   Synonyms:

   drop off

3. To change the direction of a sail so as to point in a direction that is more down wind; to bring the bow leeward.
   • 'Why d'ye see, Captain Vangs,' says bold Jack, 'I'm as good a helmsman as ever put hand to spoke; but none of us can steer the old lady now. We can't keep her full and bye, sir; watch her ever so close, she will fall off and then, sir, when I put the helm down so gently, and try like to coax her to...1846, Melville, Typee, chapter 1
4. (intransitive) To fall into sin; to stray.
   • I am bound to say that no one has fallen off so frequently as myself. I have renounced the devil and all his works; but it is by word of mouth only—by word of mouth only.1861, Anthony Trollope, Framley Parsonage