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pass off

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pass someone or something off

(on someone) (as someone or something) Go to palm someone or something off (on someone) (as someone or something).

See also: off, pass

pass something off

(as something) Go to shrug something off (as something).

See also: off, pass

pass something off (on someone) (as something)

 and pass something off

to get rid of something deceptively by giving or selling it to someone as something else. I passed the rhinestone off on John as a diamond. Don't try to pass that fake off on me! He couldn't pass off the stone on the clever jeweler.

See also: off, pass

pass off

to happen in a particular way The ceremony passed off without a problem, with the baby sleeping through most of it.

See also: off, pass

pass off

1. Misrepresent something or someone, as in They tried to pass off that piece of glass as a gemstone, or Bill passed her off as his sister. [Late 1700s] Also see palm off.

2. Be completed or carried out, take place, as in The meeting passed off without incident. [Late 1700s]

See also: off, pass

pass off

v.

1. To offer, sell, or circulate something that is an imitation as though it were genuine: Some dishonest merchants are able to pass off glass as a gemstone.

2. To present someone as something else. Often used reflexively: He tried to pass himself off as a banker, even though he has no experience in finance. The clever spy passed herself off as a store clerk. My friend passed the refugee off as a visiting cousin when the landlord asked who he was.

3. To disregard or ignore something by considering it to have some negative quality: I passed his snide comment off as a joke. They pass off everything I say as ignorant.

See also: off, pass