1. Home
2. Idioms
3. pass on

pass on

---

---

pass on someone or something

to accept or approve someone or something. She refused to pass on Ted, so he will not be appointed. The committee passed on the proposal, so work can now begin.

See also: on, pass

pass someone on (to someone)

to send, hand, or conduct a person to someone else. I passed the baby on to the next admiring relative. She passed on the baby to her aunt.

See also: on, pass

pass something on

 

1. Lit. to hand or give something (to another person). Have a piece of toffee and pass the box on. Please pass on this book to the next person on the list.

2. Fig. to tell someone something; to spread news or gossip. Don't pass this on, but Bill isn't living at home any more. I refuse to pass on rumors.

See also: on, pass

pass something on

(to someone) Go to pass something down (to someone).

See also: on, pass

pass something on (to somebody)

also pass on something (to somebody)

to give something to someone pass along something (to somebody) Companies almost always pass any increase in costs on to consumers. She had passed on some false information, but I'm sure she thought it was true.

Usage notes: often said about something given to younger people: I think it's wonderful that you have passed your interest in music on to your children.

See also: on, pass

pass on

1. See pass away.

2. Transfer something, as in Sign the card and then pass it on to the others, or Grandpa passed his tools on to his favorite grandson. Also see pass the torch.

See also: on, pass

pass on

v.

1. To transmit or convey something that one has received or acquired to someone else: My boss passed the assignment on to me.

2. To bestow something to someone, especially a younger relative: I intend to pass my wedding ring on to my granddaughter.

3. To convey some item of information that one has received or acquired to someone else: Please pass on any important information to me. I passed the news on to the neighbors.

4. To transmit some disease or sickness to someone: The child passed on the cold to the whole family. Don't go to work with a bad cold, or you'll pass it on to everyone else.

5. To give something to someone else, especially after having used or partaken of it: Could you pass the book on to me after you've read it? Take one cupcake from the tray and pass it on.

6. To die: At the age of 92, he passed on.

7. To refuse something politely; decline something: I passed on going to the movie with my friends because I was feeling sick.

See also: on, pass