Please see the second response [here](http://blog.thetys-retz.net/post/2010/11/01/Importing-Ubuntu-Font-Family-in-LaTeX).

> 
> You should try xelatex which is almost a drop in replacement for
>  latex.
> 
> 
> 

Leaving aside the technical part, which of no interest to the general audience here, I am interested in knowing what does this "almost a drop in replacement" mean?

I have a general feeling that this means something which will eventually/easily replace something, but I may be wrong.

We have other questions ([A](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/7336/what-does-drop-of-an-opinion-mean), [B](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/7107/what-does-drop-a-stitch-mean)) here on "drop", but they seem to be different.