2017-11-30
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pass sb/sth by to happen without affecting sb/sth:
She feels that life is passing her by (= that she is not enjoying the opportunities and pleasures of life). * The whole business passed him by (= he was hardly aware that it was happening).
pass sth<->down [oftenpassive] to give or teach sth to your children or people younger than you, who will then give or teach it to those who live after them, and so on
pass for / as sb/sth to be accepted as sb/sth:
He speaks the language so well he could easily pass for a German. * We had some wine-or what passes for wine in that area.
pass into sth to become a part of sth:
Many foreign words have passed into the English language. * His deeds have passed into legend (= because they were so brave, important, etc.).
pass off (BrE) (of an event) to take place and be completed in a particular way:
The demonstration passed off peacefully.
pass sb / yourself / sth off as sb/sth to pretend that sb/sth is sth they are not:
He escaped by passing himself off as a guard.
pass on = PASSAWAY
pass sth<->on (to sb) to give sth to sb else, especially after receiving it or using it yourself:
Pass the book on to me when you've finished with it. * I passed your message on to my mother. * Much of the discount is pocketed by retailers instead of being passed on to customers.
Pass out to lose consciousness
SYNFAINT
pass out (of sth) (BrE) to leave a military college after finishing a course of training:
A passing-out ceremony
pass sb<->over to not consider sb for promotion in a job, especially when they deserve it or think that they deserve it:
He was passed over in favour of a younger man.
pass over sth to ignore or avoid sth:
They chose to pass over her rude remarks.
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pass through... to go through a town, etc., stopping there for a short time but not staying:
We were passing through, so we thought we'd come and say hello.
pass sth<->up (informal) to choose not to make use of a chance, an opportunity, etc:
Imagine passing up an offer like that!
Noun
In exam
1 (especially BrE) a successful result in an exam:
She got a pass in French. * 12 passes and 3 fails * Two A-level passes are needed for this course. * The pass mark is 50%. * The school has a 90% pass rate (= 90% of students pass their exams).
Official document
2 an official document or ticket that shows that you have the right to enter or leave a place, to travel on a bus or train, etc:
a bus pass * a boarding pass (= for a plane) * There is no admittance without a security pass.
Of ball
3 (in some sports) an act of hitting or throwing the ball to another player in your team:
a short / long pass to Anelka * a back pass to the goalkeeper
Through mountains
4 a road or way over or through mountains:
a mountain pass * They came over the top of the pass and started down towards the coast.
Moving past / over
5 an act of going or moving past or over sth:
The helicopter made several passes over the village before landing.
Stage in process
6 a stage in a process, especially one that involves separating things from a larger group:
In the first pass all the addresses are loaded into the database.
IDIOMS
come to such a pass | come to a pretty pass (old-fashioned or humorous) to reach a sad or difficult state:
I never thought things would come to such a pass as this. * Things have come to a pretty pass when we can't afford to pay the heating bills!
Make a pass at sb (informal) to try to start a sexual relationship with sb
EXERCISES
1. Answer' the following questions.
1. What was Tarl Pricehouse's springtime habit? 2. Why did his wife, Bessie, resent it so much? 3. How had Tarl managed to get away from home the previous years? 4. How was he planning to leave this time? 5. How did Bessie try to persuade him to stay home? 6. What was Tarl's position in the house? 7. What story did Tarl invent? 8. How did it happen that Bessie believed his story so well? 9. What mistake had Tarl made? 10. What was Tarl's punishment?
