[Grammar] drop in to / drop in at

[tyrp]

Hello,
I know that the preposition 'to' usually points to direction, while 'at' - to a place.
E.g. I go to school every day. I am at school.
Which of the prepositions should be used after 'drop in'?
E.g. I dropped in to/at the butcher's to get some meat for dinner.
Logic says it should be 'to', but I'm positive that it's usually 'at'. Could help me there? Thanks in advance!

 

[emsr2d2]

You can use either one.

I dropped in to a friend's house earlier.
I dropped in at the doctor's surgery on my way home.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Yes, you can use either. They're slightly different.

Dropping in at a place is visiting informally or uninvited.

Dropping in to (or into) is used two ways:

- One is literal: I dropped into the swimming pool. I dropped my keys into the gutter. (Notice that into is one word.)

- The other is using to as an infinitive: I dropped in to tell you the news. She dropped in to drop off her son, the drop-out. (Notice that in to is two words.)