just about passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just about passed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something nearly happened or was very close to occurring. Example: "I was so tired during the meeting that I just about passed out from exhaustion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

I just about passed muster.

The Guardian

But four years have just about passed, and the approach remains no better.

The New York Times

"I just about passed out on the highway from exhaustion," she said.

The Washington Post

That was an opportunity for some more keeper mayhem just about passed up.

The Guardian - Sport

Now, the Renaissance just about passed Puglia by but the region has an urban gem in the form of Lecce: honey-toned baroque magnificence.

Independent

My friend Red, an extremely heterosexual woman, just about passed out when Ripert stopped by to oversee our five-course tasting menu.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Changing Britain for the better is not just about passing laws.

The Guardian

Updated at 10.54am GMT 10.16am GMT Votes in the House of Commons are not just about passing laws, or not passing laws.

The Guardian

As we noted, of the seven initial trials, three would just about pass the "null hypothesis" test – ie, replacing the VRA system with a coin.

The Guardian - Tech

There's a realisation that it's not just about passing exams in English, maths, science that matters – though of course these are important subjects.

The Guardian

In the days before lad-mag culture, it could just about pass as charmingly daring, but I wonder if he felt less indulgent about all his ogling after the advent of new laddism in the 90s.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "just about passed" to subtly indicate that success was achieved, but with a hint of difficulty or a narrow margin. This can add nuance to your writing and convey a sense of tension or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "just about passed" when a more emphatic statement of success is required. If the achievement was significant, a more confident and positive phrase should be used instead of implying a close call.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just about passed" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the extent to which an action (passing) was achieved, emphasizing the narrow margin. Ludwig provides examples where it modifies verbs like "passed muster" or "passed a test".

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

6%

Academia

7%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just about passed" is a grammatically correct and usable English expression, indicating that something barely succeeded or nearly failed. Ludwig's analysis shows the phrase is most commonly found in News & Media. While the Ludwig AI confirms its validity, it's worth noting that this phrase is less common than alternatives like "barely passed" or "narrowly passed". When writing, using this phrase can add nuance by suggesting a hint of difficulty or a narrow margin of success. Consider whether a stronger expression of success might be more appropriate if the achievement was significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

barely passed

Emphasizes the minimal margin by which something was successful.

only just passed

Stresses that the success was achieved by the smallest possible margin.

scarcely passed

Highlights the difficulty in achieving the passing result.

narrowly passed

Focuses on the closeness of the outcome.

almost succeeded

Shifts the focus to the success achieved, while maintaining the element of near failure.

virtually passed

Stresses that passing was almost achieved.

nearly made it

Indicates a close call in achieving a desired outcome.

squeaked by

Conveys a sense of barely managing to pass or succeed.

came close to failing

Highlights the risk of failure and the minimal distance to it.

managed to pass by a hair's breadth

Adds a visual element to emphasize the narrow margin of success.

FAQs

What does "just about passed" mean?

The phrase "just about passed" means that someone or something has barely succeeded or achieved a certain standard. It implies a narrow margin of success or a near miss.

What can I say instead of "just about passed"?

You can use alternatives like "barely passed", "narrowly passed", or "almost succeeded" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "just about passed" or "barely passed"?

Both "just about passed" and "barely passed" are acceptable. The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. "Just about passed" might suggest a slightly less precarious situation than "barely passed".

How to use "just about passed" in a sentence?

You can use "just about passed" to describe a situation where someone nearly failed, for example: "He studied hard and just about passed the exam". Or to describe a phase of time nearly ended: "the day was just about passed".