march past
C2Formal, Ceremonial
Definition
Meaning
A formal military ceremony in which troops march in front of a reviewing stand or important person for inspection.
Any formal parade or procession where participants walk past a person or point of significance. Can be used for non-military groups (e.g., scouts, cadets) in a ceremonial context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound noun, typically written with a hyphen or as one word ('march-past', 'marchpast'). It describes the specific event/ceremony, not the action of marching by itself. It inherently implies ceremony, display, and review.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both varieties but is more common in British and Commonwealth military/civil ceremonial contexts. In the US, 'pass in review' is a more frequent military equivalent.
Connotations
In UK contexts, it strongly evokes images of the Trooping the Colour, Remembrance Day, or other state occasions. In US contexts, it may sound slightly more technical or foreign.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English; lower frequency but understood in US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [noun/unit] performed a march past.There was a march past of [noun/unit].to hold/stage a march pastVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly, but related to 'pass muster' (to be judged acceptable).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical or political science texts describing state ceremonies.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing news reports of national day celebrations or memorial events.
Technical
Specific term in military drill and ceremonial procedure manuals.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We watched the soldiers' march-past on television.
- The school cadets had a march past at the end of the year.
- The highlight of the ceremony was the march-past of veterans in front of the war memorial.
- A grand march-past was held to mark the independence day celebrations.
- The precision and timing of the guards' march past were impeccably executed, drawing applause from the dignitaries.
- Following the speech, a ceremonial march-past of all participating contingents took place in the main square.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine soldiers on parade in LONDON, marching PAST the Queen. MARCH (walk in step) + PAST (by) = the ceremony.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CEREMONY IS A SPECTACLE (a visual performance for an audience). DISCIPLINE IS ORDER (the precise, ordered movement symbolizes control and professionalism).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'марш' (just a march/musical piece). The correct translation is often 'торжественный марш' or 'прохождение торжественным маршем'. It is an event, not a song.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'march past' as a verb phrase (e.g., 'They will march past the monument' is a literal action, not the noun phrase for the ceremony).
- Confusing it with 'march past' as a simple description of movement (e.g., 'We watched the protesters march past').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for a 'march past'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is commonly found as two words ('march past') or hyphenated ('march-past'). Dictionaries vary, but the hyphenated form often indicates it's a compound noun for the specific ceremony.
The sequence of words 'march past' can be used as a verb + preposition (e.g., 'The troops will march past the general'). However, the term 'march past' as a single lexical item is a noun referring to the ceremony.
A 'march past' is a specific type of parade. It is more formal and ceremonial, with the key element being the participants moving past a static reviewing point (a person or stand) for inspection. A 'parade' is a more general term for any organised procession.
Yes, but it retains its formal, ceremonial character. It can be used for police, fire brigades, scout groups, school cadets, or any organisation that performs a similar formal marching ceremony for review.