grant a pass

USAGE SUMMARY

"grant a pass" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to give permission or approval for someone to pass or go through a certain situation or circumstance. Example: The teacher decided to grant a pass to the student who was late for class due to a family emergency. In this example, the teacher has given permission for the student to not be penalized for being late because of a legitimate reason.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

So that fact alone is not enough for Ms. Pelosi to grant a pass.

The New York Times - Health

When you visit a web site that is participating in PrefPass, you can click a button on that site to grant a pass for the site to view your prefs or interests.

TechCrunch

Another option would be to petition the Department of Labor to grant a pass for the changes in collective-bargaining laws in state; that, however, would be dependent on a Democratic administration being willing to, more or less, turn a blind eye on the measure aimed at unions.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

That Helen has been granted a pass to the final comes as a great relief.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He added: "My big reward after the Olympics was being granted a pass by the local council that gained me free entry to the pool I trained at.

The New York Times

His "team" - his manager Simon Dent - works for next to nothing; his coach, Daniel Plummer, an ex-sprinter who formerly trained his old rival Darren Campbell, was not granted a pass for these games and had to pay his own easyJet flight out.

The Guardian - Sport

The unimpressive AZ were granted a pass by their ever more easygoing manager Louis van Gaal, who held injuries to six regulars and Heracles' artificial pitch responsible, as several plastic sprigs whipped defiantly in the wind.

The Guardian - Sport

Gold Walkley-winning journalist Mark Davis was recently granted a pass to produce a Dateline story for Australian TV station SBS which aired on June 3.

Vice

I went back to trash-talking the other patients in my journal and after a few days of good behavior, I was finally granted a "pass," which meant I could participate in gym and eat in the hospital cafeteria with patients from all the other wards.

Vice

His "awarding-winning" service wasn't enough to grant him a pass when he called another black staff member "King Kong" during an argument.

Vice

If Kelly's email to Diana were the only stain on an otherwise spotless record of supporting job seekers in Cleveland, one might be tempted to grant Kelly a pass and move on.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "grant a pass", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being permitted or excused. For instance, "The judge decided to grant the defendant a pass due to lack of evidence" clarifies the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "grant a pass" without specifying what the pass entails. Saying "The manager granted a pass" is vague; specify, "The manager granted a pass on the dress code for the event."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grant a pass" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of giving permission, authorization, or exemption. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in contexts where someone is excused from a rule or obligation.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "grant a pass" is a grammatically correct and usable verb phrase that means to give permission or approval, or to excuse someone from a rule or obligation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While not extremely common, the phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, often indicating a formal or official decision. Related phrases include "give permission" and "authorize access". To ensure clarity, it's important to specify what the "pass" entails to avoid ambiguity. Although "give a break" might seem similar, it carries a different connotation than the more formal "grant a pass".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

give permission

Replaces "grant" with "give" and "pass" with "permission", focusing on the act of allowing something.

give authorization

Similar to "give permission", but emphasizes the formal act of authorizing something.

authorize access

Focuses on allowing entry or access to something specific.

approve passage

Replaces "grant" with "approve" and implies the approval of movement or transition.

allow exemption

Highlights the act of exempting someone from a rule or obligation.

give the green light

An idiomatic expression that means to give approval or permission for something to proceed.

sign off on

Emphasizes the act of formally approving or endorsing something.

accede to

Indicates agreement or consent to a request or demand.

concede approval

Implies reluctantly giving approval or permission.

vouchsafe permission

A more formal and archaic way of saying to grant permission.

FAQs

How to use "grant a pass" in a sentence?

Use "grant a pass" when you want to express giving someone permission or an exemption. Example: "The teacher decided to "grant a pass" to the student who was late due to a valid reason".

What can I say instead of "grant a pass"?

You can use alternatives like "give permission", "authorize", or "allow exemption" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "grant a pass" or "give a pass"?

Both ""grant a pass"" and "give a pass" are acceptable, although "grant a pass" has a slightly more formal tone.

What's the difference between "grant a pass" and "give a break"?

"Grant a pass" implies a formal exemption or permission, whereas "give a break" suggests leniency or overlooking a minor offense. They are not interchangeable.