In debate, to drop an argument means to leave it unanswered. When one team makes a claim and the other team never responds to it, that claim is considered dropped. Most judging traditions treat dropped arguments as conceded, meaning the judge accepts them as true for the rest of the round.
How Drops Win Rounds
Drops are a common way debaters win close rounds. A team that tracks every argument on their flow can notice when the other side has forgotten to respond to a key point, then call that out in their summary speech. Judges often base their decision on which side clearly won on the dropped arguments rather than on the arguments where both sides clashed.
How to Avoid Dropping Arguments
Good debaters flow carefully (keeping detailed notes) so they can see exactly what still needs to be answered. A short checklist before each speech - 'what are the two arguments I must address?' - prevents most accidental drops. Accidental drops are one of the biggest preventable mistakes in beginner debate.