pass up
B2Informal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
To decline or refuse an opportunity, offer, or chance.
To choose not to take advantage of something presented; to let something go by; to reject or overlook, often implying the missed item had potential value.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a conscious decision not to accept. Often carries a nuance of potential regret or a missed opportunity. Commonly used with concrete offers (jobs, tickets) or abstract chances (opportunities).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical in meaning and frequency. No significant syntactic or lexical differences.
Connotations
Slightly more informal in British English, but acceptable in most contexts in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to pass up [an opportunity/offer]to pass up on [something] (less common)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't look a gift horse in the mouth (related concept).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common: 'He passed up the merger offer.' Refers to declining deals, promotions, or partnerships.
Academic
Rare; more likely in informal speech than formal writing.
Everyday
Very common: 'I passed up dessert.' Used for daily offers and opportunities.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It was a fantastic bargain, so I didn't pass it up.
- You'd be mad to pass up an opportunity like that.
American English
- She passed up the job offer to travel.
- Never pass up free coffee.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He passed up the cake because he wasn't hungry.
- She passed up the invitation to the party.
- Don't pass up this chance to see the show.
- I regret passing up the opportunity to study abroad.
- The company passed up several potential investors.
- Critics argued that the government had passed up a historic opportunity for reform.
- As a seasoned investor, he rarely passes up a undervalued asset.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone handing you a gift (passing it UP to you), and you wave your hands to say 'no, pass it up' – you are sending the opportunity upward and away from you.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPORTUNITY IS AN OBJECT BEING OFFERED / REFUSAL IS PHYSICAL REJECTION (pushing away).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить буквально как 'пройти вверх'.
- Не путать с 'pass by' (пройти мимо) или 'pass on' (передать дальше, сообщить).
- Ключевой перевод: 'упустить (возможность)', 'отказаться'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I passed up him on the offer.' Correct: 'I passed up his offer.'
- Incorrect preposition: 'I passed up to go.' Correct: 'I passed up the chance to go.'
Practice
Quiz
What is the closest meaning of 'pass up' in this sentence: 'He passed up the promotion to spend more time with his family.'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral to informal. It's common in speech and general writing but might be replaced with 'decline' or 'forgo' in very formal documents.
'Pass up on' is sometimes heard in casual speech (e.g., 'I passed up on the deal'), but the standard construction is simply 'pass up' + direct object (e.g., 'I passed up the deal'). The version without 'on' is preferred.
'Pass up' implies a deliberate choice not to take something. 'Miss' can be accidental (e.g., 'I missed the bus') or refer to feeling sadness for an absence. You 'pass up' an opportunity you are aware of; you might 'miss' an opportunity you never knew about.
No, there is no standard noun form. You would use 'refusal', 'rejection', or 'missed opportunity' instead.