declined to pass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to pass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone chose not to approve or allow something to proceed. Example: "The committee declined to pass the proposed budget for the upcoming year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

For its part, the Kremlin has declined to pass judgment.

The New York Times

Sergeant Boodram declined to pass judgment on civilian camouflage.

The New York Times

During the annual meeting, they initially declined to pass a resolution doing just that.

The Guardian - Opinion

Congress, although asked to do so, [n1] has declined to pass legislation specifically limiting trains to seventy cars.

Cornell University

Now, the anticorruption law is in tatters after the upper house of Parliament declined to pass it.

The New York Times

Many states declined to pass sterilization laws despite the biologists, because of objections from religious groups and civil libertarians.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

But Natasha, feeling that this might "spoil" Maro, declines to pass them on.

The Guardian - Books

In its final report, the Sovern commission noted that the establishment of an investigative commission should not be cited as an excuse by the legislature to decline to pass reform legislation.

The New York Times

"Adore" exploits the exoticism of its sexual arrangements and acknowledges that some people might be scandalized by them, but it stoically declines to pass judgment or even acknowledge that what Roz and Lil are doing might involve some psychological and emotional weirdness.

The New York Times

He danced around the allegations when asked, declining to pass judgment on the GOP candidate.

Vice

If the film declines to pass judgment on Pari, Arezou and Nargess, it also refuses to condescend to them by assuming their innocence.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure clarity, explicitly state the object that was "declined to pass" (e.g., "the bill", "the amendment").

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by always specifying what was "declined to pass". For example, instead of "The council declined to pass", write "The council declined to pass the new zoning regulations."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to pass" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a negative action taken by a subject. It typically describes the act of refusing to approve or enact something, often in a legislative or formal context, as evidenced by the examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declined to pass" is a commonly used phrase indicating a refusal to approve or enact something. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness, particularly in News & Media, Academia, and Formal & Business contexts. While alternatives like "refused to approve" or "rejected" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to always specify the object that was "declined to pass" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chose not to pass

Emphasizes the element of choice in the decision.

refused to approve

Stronger emphasis on active refusal rather than simply not passing.

decided against passing

Highlights deliberation before the decision.

rejected

Implies a more forceful disapproval and active opposition.

voted against

Relevant when a vote is involved.

did not ratify

Specifically applicable to formal agreements or proposals.

failed to enact

Focuses on the lack of successful implementation of a law or regulation.

vetoed

Implies executive power to reject a legislative decision.

opted not to adopt

Highlights a conscious decision against embracing a particular course of action.

turned down

More informal and general refusal.

FAQs

What does "declined to pass" mean?

The phrase "declined to pass" means to refuse to approve or enact something, such as a law, a bill, or a proposal. It indicates a decision against allowing something to proceed.

How can I use "declined to pass" in a sentence?

You can use "declined to pass" to describe a legislative body or governing entity rejecting a proposed measure. For instance, "The Senate "refused to approve" the new budget."

What are some alternatives to "declined to pass"?

Alternatives to "declined to pass" include "rejected", "refused to approve", or "failed to enact", depending on the context. These phrases convey a similar meaning of disapproval or non-acceptance.

Is it better to say "declined to pass" or "refused to pass"?

Both "declined to pass" and "refused to pass" are acceptable, but "declined" is generally considered more formal. "Refused" carries a stronger connotation of active resistance, while "declined" can simply indicate a non-approval without necessarily implying opposition.