a passing feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passing feeling" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an emotion or sensation that is temporary and not lasting. Example: "After the initial excitement wore off, I realized it was just a passing feeling and not true happiness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In most cases it is a passing feeling, but it can strike deeply so many cases exist where people feel they have no skills and therefore no meaning in life.

WikiHow

Similarly he proposes "madicle" to describe a passing feeling of anger that is often felt in relationships but are so fleeting as to be surely unworthy of mentioning or pursuing, lest the madicle evolve into a longer term and more troubling feeling of anger and resentment.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Anxiety as a state, or anxiety about an event, is defined as a temporary and passing feeling of fear, nervousness, and discomfort and the arousal of the autonomic nervous system induced by different situations perceived as dangerous, referring to the feeling at the time of perceived threat.

BioMed Research International

Hearts are there to catch passing feelings and strangle them.

The Guardian - Arts

Cattle producers were instrumental in getting the rules passed, feeling it would give them a competitive edge over foreign producers.

The New York Times

He passed, feeling confident that his 18 points opposite an opening bid would produce 10 tricks in no-trump.

The New York Times - Arts

We'd long passed feeling any shame about farting in public.

Vice

It's a brief feeling, a passing shadow, but Britney mines every aspect of it: the donning of emotional armour, the defensive pre-emptive apology, the fear of the impotency of loneliness.

The Guardian - Music

After Jason arrived at the Opening, he made a few passes, feeling right at home: when he was eight, on a trip with his father, he'd caught his first striper just off Tuckernuck.

The New Yorker

It was also prompted by "an extraordinary sensation that something was wrong, a moment was passing" – the feeling had struck as she turned back from her one solo walk that summer – a successful hike to the source of Neil Gunn's native Dunbeath Water.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"In this case, it is the quiet moments of apprehension that occur before a writer strikes that I want to convey: the feeling that comes while lurking in the shadows, waiting for a guard to pass, or feeling a rush of air as a train flies past two inches from where you're crouched".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a passing feeling" to describe emotions or sensations that are temporary and do not have a lasting impact. This can add nuance to your writing when describing internal states.

Common error

Avoid using "a passing feeling" when describing significant or deeply rooted emotions. This phrase is best suited for transient states, not for long-term sentiments or psychological conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing feeling" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "passing" modifies the noun "feeling". It serves to describe the nature of the feeling as being temporary or not lasting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Wiki

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a passing feeling" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a temporary emotion or sensation. As Ludwig AI explains, it is suitable for various contexts, especially in News & Media, Wiki and Science. While not extremely common, it effectively conveys the fleeting nature of certain experiences. When writing, remember to use it for emotions that genuinely lack depth or permanence to avoid misrepresenting the intensity of the sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a fleeting sensation

Emphasizes the brief and quick nature of the sensation.

a momentary emotion

Highlights the short duration of the emotion.

a transient feeling

Uses a more formal term to indicate the temporary nature of the feeling.

a brief sentiment

Replaces "feeling" with "sentiment", suggesting a subtle emotion.

a temporary emotion

Directly states that the emotion is not permanent.

a short-lived feeling

Uses a hyphenated adjective to describe the brief duration.

an ephemeral sensation

Employs a more poetic term to describe the fleeting nature of the sensation.

a quickly fading feeling

Highlights the rapid disappearance of the feeling.

a superficial feeling

Implies the feeling lacks depth or significance.

a light emotion

Suggests that the emotion is not intense or burdensome.

FAQs

What does "a passing feeling" mean?

The phrase "a passing feeling" describes an emotion or sensation that is temporary and doesn't last long. It suggests something that fades or disappears relatively quickly.

How can I use "a passing feeling" in a sentence?

You can use "a passing feeling" to describe a brief emotion, such as: "After the initial excitement wore off, I realized it was just "a passing feeling" and not true happiness."

What are some alternatives to "a passing feeling"?

Alternatives include "a fleeting sensation", "a momentary emotion", or "a transient feeling". These all emphasize the temporary nature of the emotion or sensation.

Is "a passing feeling" the same as "a deep emotion"?

No, "a passing feeling" is the opposite of a deep emotion. "A passing feeling" is temporary and superficial, while a deep emotion is profound and long-lasting.