phrasal verb

[dean1]

Hi. I wonder if 'pop in/by' and 'drop by/over' are interchangeable.
For instance, can I rephrase ' He popped by to say hi ' to ' He dropped by to say hi' ?

[svartnik]

Hi. I wonder if 'pop in/by' and 'drop by/over' are interchangeable.
For instance, can I rephrase ' He popped by to say hi ' to ' He dropped by to say hi' ?

Pop in means to go to a place, usually to visit a friend for a short time.
Drop by/over means the same with the added connotation of doing so without any prior arrangement.
Pop by? Does it exist?

[DavyBCN]

They are definitely all interchangeable - and "pop by" does exist - it is very common in the UK. To be very exact - pop in/over and drop in/over - tend to be used when you have to go to a specific place - such as someone's home or office. Pop by/drop by can be used in this way but would be better if, for example, you are in an office and are going to see someone at their desk - similar to "pass by".

[dean1]

One more question: what about 'call in on sb' and 'call by'? Do they work in the same way? I'd like to know the nuance of them. Thanks.

[svartnik]

They are definitely all interchangeable - and "pop by" does exist - it is very common in the UK. To be very exact - pop in/over and drop in/over - tend to be used when you have to go to a specific place - such as someone's home or office. Pop by/drop by can be used in this way but would be better if, for example, you are in an office and are going to see someone at their desk - similar to "pass by".

'Pop by' may exist, but then, it is not standard English.
I did not find it in my phrasal verbs dictionary and I did not find it in any of my big dictionaries either.
pop in and drop in/by overlap in meaning but they are not always interchangeable.

[svartnik]

One more question: what about 'call in on sb' and 'call by'? Do they work in the same way? I'd like to know the nuance of them. Thanks.

'Call in/by' have the same core meaning as the other phrasal verbs, but they also suggest that you visit a place while you are on your way somewhere else.

[Tdol]

In addition to the nuance Svartvik gives, they can also carry a sense, though not always, of giving assistance or checking on someone:
I called in on my sister, who's been ill.

[DavyBCN]

'Pop by' may exist, but then, it is not standard English.
I did not find it in my phrasal verbs dictionary and I did not find it in any of my big dictionaries either.
pop in and drop in/by overlap in meaning but they are not always interchangeable.

Um - not really sure whether there is such a thing as standard English any more. Pop by has been a common phrasal verb all my life.