pindrop silence

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. There was pindrop silence when the PM lectured the crowd.
  2. There was pindrop silence throughout for the three hours of the ballet.
  3. There was pindrop silence throughout the show.
    Please correct all.
    Thanks.
2

You don’t have the use of this idiom correct. You cannot take it out of the phrase ‘hear a pin drop’ and it does not accompany ‘silence’.

  1. You could have heard a pin drop when the PM lectured the crowd. - which doesn’t really make sense as there should be no sound at all, including the voice of the PM, to use that idiom.
  2. You could have heard a pin drop during the ballet. - which also doesn’t make sense, as the orchestra would have been playing. The same for #3. You could have heard a pin drop throughout the show.

When the speaker finished, everyone was stunned. You could have heard a pin drop. <-- this correct example of the idiom in use indicates there was a total silence after the sppech. No sound from anyone or anything.

3

Beeesneees,

  1. Keep pindrop silence when the Inspector visits our class.
  2. You could have heard a pin drop in the class when the Inspector visited the class.
    Are these sentences OK?
    Thanks.
4

In #1 you have used the terms ‘pin drop’ and ‘silence’ together which I have already indicated is not correct.

I expect to be able to hear a pin drop in our class when the Inspector visits.
You could have heard a pin drop when the Inspector visited the class.