Pass sth up Meaning, Examples & How to Use the Phrasal Verb

What Does “Pass sth up” Mean?

“Pass sth up” means to decline or refuse an opportunity or offer. It is often used when someone chooses not to accept something valuable or beneficial.

Introduction

The phrasal verb “pass sth up” is commonly used in everyday English to talk about turning down offers, chances, or invitations. Understanding the “pass sth up meaning” helps learners recognize when someone decides not to take advantage of something. This phrase is useful because it appears often in conversations about decisions, opportunities, and choices. For example, if someone is offered a job or a chance to join an event but decides not to accept it, they are said to “pass it up.” Learning how to use this phrase correctly can improve your ability to express refusal politely and clearly.

Quick Info Box

• Phrasal verb: pass something up
• Type: transitive
• Level: B1 (Intermediate)
• Short meaning: to refuse or decline an opportunity or offer

Structure (Grammar Rules)

“Pass sth up” is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object can go between the verb and the particle or after the particle.

• Pass the opportunity up.
• Pass up the opportunity.

Both structures are correct, but placing the object between the verb and particle is more common in spoken English.

How to Use “Pass sth up”?

Use “pass sth up” when you talk about refusing something valuable, like a job, invitation, or chance. It usually refers to opportunities that could benefit the person but are declined for various reasons. The phrase is often used in both formal and informal contexts.

Examples of situations where you might use it include:

• Turning down a job offer.
• Refusing a chance to study abroad.
• Declining an invitation to a special event.

Examples

Imagine your friend was offered a great job but decided not to take it. You could say:

• He didn’t want to pass up the chance to work in a new city.
• She passed up the job because it didn’t pay enough.
• They passed up the opportunity to join the team trip.
• Don’t pass up the chance to learn something new.
• We passed up the invitation because we were busy.

Here are some sentences with “pass sth up in a sentence” for clarity:

• I can’t believe you passed up that amazing deal.
• She passed up the scholarship to stay closer to home.

Common Mistakes

Sometimes learners confuse “pass sth up” with other phrasal verbs or use it incorrectly in sentences. Here are some examples:

• Incorrect: I pass uped the offer yesterday.
• Correct: I passed up the offer yesterday.
• Incorrect: He passed the up job.
• Correct: He passed up the job.

Remember, the past tense is “passed up,” and the object should be placed either after “pass” or after “up.”

Differences / Synonyms

Other phrasal verbs like “turn down” or “give up” can seem similar but have different meanings. “Pass sth up” focuses on refusing opportunities, while “turn down” means to reject something, often an offer or invitation. “Give up” means to stop trying or quit.

• Pass sth up: refuse an opportunity (e.g., pass up a chance)
• Turn down: reject an offer (e.g., turn down a proposal)
• Give up: stop trying (e.g., give up a hobby)

While “pass up” and “turn down” are close in meaning, “pass up” often implies a missed chance, whereas “turn down” can be more general rejection.

Common Collocations

When using “pass sth up,” certain nouns commonly appear after it. These collocations help you use the phrase naturally.

• Opportunity: a chance to do something valuable
• Offer: a proposal or invitation
• Chance: an occasion to do something
• Invitation: a request to attend an event
• Deal: a business or special arrangement

Related Phrasal Verbs

Here are related phrasal verbs of pass sth up:

• Pass For Sb
• Pass For Sth
• Pass Sth Off As Sth
• Pass Through Sth
• Pass Sb On To Sb

Real-life Dialogue

Here is a short conversation using “pass sth up”:

Anna: Did you hear about the job opening at the new company?

Ben: Yes, but I decided to pass it up. It didn’t seem like the right fit.

Anna: That makes sense. Sometimes it’s better to wait for a better opportunity.

Practice

Try to complete the sentences with the correct form of “pass sth up”:

• I __________ the chance to travel last summer because I was busy.
• Don’t __________ the opportunity to improve your skills.
• She __________ the invitation because she had other plans.

Answers: passed up, pass up, passed up

FAQs

• What does “pass sth up” mean? It means to refuse or decline an opportunity or offer.
• Is “pass sth up” formal or informal? It is used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Can I separate the object in “pass sth up”? Yes, you can put the object between “pass” and “up” or after “up.”
• What are synonyms for “pass sth up”? “Turn down” or “decline” are similar but not always exact.
• Can I use “pass sth up” in the past tense? Yes, the past tense is “passed up.”