hardly pass

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hardly pass" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is barely acceptable or meets the minimum requirements. Example: "The exam was so difficult that I could hardly pass it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They could hardly pass a ball.

The Guardian - Sport

Our previous study demonstrated that SAA could hardly pass through the BBB.

Chinese Herbal Medicines

Loving Adventure Manuel Gomez Jr. could hardly pass up an adventure.

The New York Times

On the contrary, with a gun on my hip I could hardly pass as a peaceable noncombatant.

The New York Times

Barbican Hall, EC2, Wed JF The centenary of the most famous shipwreck of the 20th century could hardly pass without the work by Gavin Bryars that commemorates it.

The Guardian - Music

You can hardly pass a billboard in New York City without seeing her face plastered on advertisements for her new movie, "Maid In Manhattan".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

And those 115 seasons have hardly passed without opportunities.

The New York Times - Sports

That hardly passes for credible social science, though.

The New York Times - Arts

Murray, so often criticised for his rants, hardly passed a glance towards his box all afternoon.

The Guardian - Sport

It was all strange; Namath himself, still the best pure passer any of us has ever seen, hardly passed the ball at all.

The New Yorker

The Cornell pumpkin stunt remains one of the university's most celebrated news events, capturing the fancy of major media during what hardly passed for a slow news month.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hardly pass", ensure the context clearly indicates the narrow margin or difficulty involved in achieving the passing result. This adds emphasis to the precariousness of the situation or outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "hardly pass" when the intention is to convey a comfortable or significant success. The phrase implies a minimal or questionable passing, and using it inappropriately can misrepresent the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hardly pass" primarily functions as a verb phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the manner in which an action is performed or a state is achieved. It suggests that an action is completed with great difficulty or that a standard is barely met, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hardly pass" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that conveys a sense of minimal success or achievement attained with difficulty. As Ludwig confirms, the expression is suitable for indicating situations where a standard is barely met. Its prevalence in News & Media and Scientific publications underscores its versatility across various registers, though primarily neutral. When incorporating "hardly pass" in writing, writers must always consider if the intention is to portray that minimal action or a more comfortable one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely pass

Emphasizes the narrow margin by which something is passed or accepted.

only just pass

Emphasizes the minimal nature of the success.

barely succeed

Focuses on achieving a minimal level of success.

minimally pass

Stresses that the passing is at the lowest acceptable level.

just manage to pass

Highlights the effort required to achieve a passing result.

narrowly get through

Indicates a close call in successfully navigating a challenge.

scrape through

Suggests a minimal and often lucky success.

pass with difficulty

Focuses on the challenging nature of achieving a pass.

inadequately pass

Highlights the insufficiency of the passing.

fail to quite pass

Implies near failure, coming extremely close to not passing.

FAQs

How can I use "hardly pass" in a sentence?

You can use "hardly pass" to describe situations where someone or something barely meets a certain standard, such as "He could "hardly pass" the exam after only a few hours of studying".

What does "hardly pass" imply?

"Hardly pass" implies that the subject in question has only just managed to succeed or meet a certain criterion, often with difficulty or by a very small margin. It suggests a precariousness or a lack of substantial achievement.

What can I say instead of "hardly pass"?

Alternatives to "hardly pass" include "barely succeed", "scarcely pass", or "just manage to pass", each carrying a similar connotation of minimal success.

When is it appropriate to use "hardly pass" over "easily pass"?

Use "hardly pass" when emphasizing the difficulty and minimal margin of success. In contrast, use "easily pass" when indicating a comfortable and straightforward success without significant challenges.