To "give it a pass" means to decide not to do something, buy something, or accept something. It can also mean overlooking or ignoring something, especially a mistake or a fault.
In short:
- It can mean not to do, buy, or accept something.
- It can also refer to ignoring something.
What Does "Give It a Pass" Mean?
The idiom "give it a pass" has two primary meanings:
- To decide not to do something, buy something, or accept something. This can be because of a lack of interest, preference, time, money, or quality. For example, you might give a book a pass because you don't like the genre.
- To overlook or ignore something, especially a mistake or a fault. This can be because of kindness, generosity, tolerance, or indifference. For example, you might give someone a pass for being late because they had a good reason.
Where Does "Give It a Pass" Come From?
The origin of the "give it a pass" idiom is unclear. However, it seems to be related to the verb "pass" in the sense of moving past or beyond something. The phrase "give it a pass" emerged in the 20th century as a variation of the meaning of "pass." It implies that one has the option or the power to accept or reject something but chooses not to.
10 Examples of "Give It a Pass" in Sentences
Here are some examples of how to use this idiom in different sentences and contexts:
- My friend recommended that movie, but I'll still give it a pass.
- I'm not in the mood for spicy food, so I'll give that dish a pass.
- My bad. I have too much work to do, so I'll give the party a pass.
- What can I say? That book didn't interest me, so I'll give it a pass.
- She decided to give it a pass when he asked her for an evening out.
- Real talk: The restaurant got a bad review, so I decided to give it a pass.
- Sorry to hear that the new video game got terrible ratings, so I'll give it a pass.
- About last night, the concert tickets were too expensive, so I had to give it a pass.
- That's too bad. I heard the amusement park is crowded today, so I'll give it a pass.
- Oh, snap. I was going to buy that dress, but I gave it a pass when I saw the price tag.
Examples of "Give It a Pass" in Pop Culture
Here are some examples of how this idiom appeared in various forms of pop culture:
- In the movie "The Godfather" (1972), Don Vito Corleone says to his son Michael: "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse. He doesn't give it a pass. I'm going to leave him on the floor." He will threaten someone with violence if they disagree with his terms.
- In the book "The Hunger Games" (2008) by Suzanne Collins, Katniss Everdeen says to Peeta Mellark: "You don't have to give me any more bread. You've already given me enough to fill a bakery. I'll give it a pass." She will decline his food offer because she feels indebted to him.
- In the TV show "Friends" (1994-2004), Chandler Bing says to Monica Geller: "You know what? I'm going to give it a pass. The last time I was here, I had sex with the groom." This means he will not attend a wedding because he had an affair with the groom.
- In the video game "Fallout 4" (2015), the player can say to Piper Wright: "I think I'll give it a pass." This means they will not agree to be interviewed by her for her newspaper.
Synonyms: Other/Different Ways to Say "Give It a Pass"
Here are some synonyms for this idiom:
- Skip it
- Avoid it
- Let it go
- Bypass it
- Opt out of it
- Give it a miss
- Refrain from it
- Abstain from it
- Steer clear of it
10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Give It a Pass"
Here are some frequently asked questions about this idiom:
- What does "give it a pass" mean?
To "give it a pass" means to decide not to do something, buy something, or accept something. It can also mean overlooking or ignoring something, especially a mistake or a fault.
- What is the origin of the phrase "give it a pass"?
The origin of the "give it a pass" idiom is unclear. However, it seems to be related to the verb "pass" in the sense of moving past or beyond something. The phrase "give it a pass" emerged in the 20th century as a variation of the meaning of "pass." It implies that one has the option or the power to accept or reject something but chooses not to.
- Is "give it a pass" formal or informal?
The idiom "give it a pass" is informal and casual. It is not appropriate for formal or academic writing or speech. Instead, you can use more formal synonyms such as decline, reject, or overlook.
- Can you use "give it a pass" in the past tense?
Yes, you can use "give it a pass" in the past tense by changing the verb "give" to its past tense form, "gave." For example, "I gave it a pass when they invited me to their party; I was too busy."
- Can you use "give it a pass" in the future tense?
Yes, you can use "give it a pass" in the future tense by adding the modal verb "will" before the verb "give." For example, "I will give it a pass when they ask me to join their project. I have other plans."
- Can you use "give it a pass" in questions?
Yes, you can use "give it a pass" in questions by changing the word order and adding a question mark at the end. For example, "Will you give it a pass when they offer you a job, you don’t like their company?"
- Can you use "give it a pass" in negative sentences?
Yes, you can use "give it a pass" in negative sentences by adding the word "not" before the verb "give." For example, "I will not give it a pass when they apologize. They hurt me too much."
- Can you use "give it a pass" with other pronouns or nouns?
You can use "give it a pass" with other pronouns or nouns by replacing the pronoun "it" with the appropriate word. For example, "She gave him a pass for being late. He had a good excuse." or "He gave the book a pass. He didn't like the author."
- Can you use "give it a pass" in different verb tenses or moods?
You can use "give it a pass" in different verb tenses or moods by changing the verb form accordingly. For example, "She has given it a pass many times; she is very patient." or "If I were you, I would give it a pass; it is not worth it."
- What is the difference between "give it a pass" and "give someone a free pass"?
The idiom "give someone a free pass" means to allow someone or something to escape criticism or consequences, usually unfairly or undeservedly. On the other hand, "give it a pass" means to decide not to do something, buy something, or accept something, usually for personal reasons.
Final Thoughts About "Give It a Pass"
The idiom "give it a pass" is a familiar and informal way of expressing one's decision or attitude towards something or someone. It can have different meanings depending on the context and the tone.
Here are some key points to remember about this idiom:
- It can mean to decide not to do something, buy something, or accept something.
- It can also mean overlooking or ignoring something, especially a mistake or a fault.
- It comes from the idea of passing on an opportunity or an offer.
- It can be used in various situations, such as declining invitations, rejecting products, or forgiving errors.
- It can be found in many pop culture and media examples, such as movies, songs, books, and TV shows.
- It is informal, casual, and inappropriate for formal or academic writing or speech.
- It has some related expressions that have similar meanings.
