needle drop
noun
plural needle drops
1
: the dropping of needles by a conifer (such as a spruce, yew, or pine)
Fall needle drop occurs each year …—
Deborah Brown
Deborah Brown2
: a popular song used in a film or television show for dramatic effect
… heavy metal needle drops add a flourish to sword fights …—Robert Daniels
—often hyphenated when used before another nounRobert Danielsneedle-drop scores
Examples of needle drop in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film is faithful to the franchise’s customary angst, with riotous needle drops (and an obligatory new Nick Cave track) courtesy of Antony Genn and Martin Slattery.
—Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Absolutely perfect Nina Simone needle drop.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
After the needle drop Deniké plays a set with the Cottontails, which is followed by an informal hang with the musicians.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Micay works hand in hand with the show’s music supervisor, Ollie White, who is responsible for this season’s incredible (and surely expensive) needle drops from Donna Summer and Daft Punk.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Industry has some huge needle drops.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026
Hailing from The Forge, the show is known for harnessing the turn-of-the-century climate in America and England that was the Gilded Age and mixing the culture of the time period with modern needle drops.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
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Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Absolutely perfect Nina Simone needle drop.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2026
After the needle drop Deniké plays a set with the Cottontails, which is followed by an informal hang with the musicians.
—Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
Micay works hand in hand with the show’s music supervisor, Ollie White, who is responsible for this season’s incredible (and surely expensive) needle drops from Donna Summer and Daft Punk.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 2 Mar. 2026
Industry has some huge needle drops.
—Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026
Hailing from The Forge, the show is known for harnessing the turn-of-the-century climate in America and England that was the Gilded Age and mixing the culture of the time period with modern needle drops.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Needle drop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/needle%20drop. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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