pass on
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle on
Meanings
Give something to another person
Why “on”? Sliding forward along the surface. Motion that keeps going on and on.
“Pass the message on to her.”
“Pass the note on to the next table.”
Politely refuse an offer
Why “on”? After weighing options, the mind settles on one choice.
“I'll pass on dessert.”
“I'll pass on the coffee tonight.”
Die, used as a polite expression
“Her grandfather passed on last year.”
“Their old neighbour passed on quietly.”
Don't confuse with
Pass on means give something to another person. Pass off means pretend that something or someone is something else.
Pass on means politely refuse an offer. Pass up means decline or fail to take an opportunity.
Pass on means die, used as a polite expression. Pass away also means die politely.
Test yourself
“Pass the message on to her.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
pass away
A contrast learners often mix up
Die, used as a polite expression
pass off
A contrast learners often mix up
Pretend that something or someone is something else
pass up
A contrast learners often mix up
Decline or fail to take an opportunity
agree on
Same on pattern: decision
Reach a shared decision about something
bring on
Same on pattern: continuation
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
call on
Same on pattern: continuation
Ask someone to do something formally
carry on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue doing something; Behave in a silly, loud or annoying way; Have a romantic affair, often secretly
catch on
Same on pattern: continuation
Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something
Practice “pass on” in Sink In
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