Madhulk  +  547914 Tue, 29 Jul 08 11:14 AM  Assault charges dropped against cop. Meaning the charges are dropped? Or he's been found guilty of all charges? Madhulk Joined on Mon, Dec 17 2007 Bulgaria Senior Member 3,177 THE MAN OF STEEL

	Mr Wordy  +  548049 Tue, 29 Jul 08 02:31 PM The charges have been dropped -- means that the authorities decided not to pursue the case against the cop (for example because of a lack of evidence). Mr Wordy Joined on Tue, May 27 2008 Senior Member 2,359 Native British English speaker

	Madhulk  +  548091 Tue, 29 Jul 08 02:59 PM  Thanks, Mr Wordy! I knew what to drop charges means but it was the word order that confused me - 'dropped against cop'.  Madhulk Word Order

	Philip  +  548113 Tue, 29 Jul 08 03:30 PM Madhulk “ Assault charges dropped against cop. ” This is a case of abbreviated headline style getting in the way of meaning.  It should be 'assault charges against cop dropped'.  As it is, it sounds like the charges were dropped, falling against the cop.  But the truncated headlines don't like to end in a verb. Philip Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005 Veteran Member 8,738 At reise er at leve! - H. C. Andersen Verbs