narrowly passed

USAGE SUMMARY

"narrowly passed" is a valid English phrasal verb and it can be used in written English.
Example sentence: The proposed bill narrowly passed Congress with a majority of just one vote.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The measure narrowly passed.

The Guardian

The House of Representatives narrowly passed the bill in March.

The New York Times

Her initial attempt to repeal the law narrowly passed the House but failed in the Senate.

The New York Times

A proposal to establish a Scottish assembly was narrowly passed in a referendum in 1979.

The Guardian

Pastor narrowly passed the stress tests and was the worst-performing Spanish commercial bank.

The New York Times

The proposal narrowly passed the Senate last year but was dropped from the budget resolution.

The New York Times

On 5 December the Senate narrowly passed legislation containing a suite of measures.

The Guardian

It narrowly passed after a push for ratification by union leaders in the final days.

The New York Times

The House bill, which narrowly passed in late June, would establish a similar program.

The New York Times

Norddeutsche Landesbank in Hanover, which narrowly passed the stress test, was among those whose C.D.S. spreads rose.

The New York Times

In 2010 it narrowly passed the House, but was blocked by a Republican filibuster in the Senate.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a vote or decision, follow "narrowly passed" with specific numerical data to emphasize just how close the outcome was.

Common error

Don't use "narrowly passed" without indicating what passed. Ensure the subject is clear to avoid confusion about the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "narrowly passed" functions as a compound verb, describing the manner in which something was approved or accepted. It modifies the verb "passed" to indicate that the success was achieved by a small margin. Ludwig shows that this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "narrowly passed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe something that has been approved or accepted by a small margin. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it serves to emphasize the closeness of the outcome. Ludwig AI confirms this, advising users to specify the context to avoid ambiguity and enhance clarity. When employing this phrase, be mindful of the neutral register, and consider supplementing it with specific numerical data to underscore the tightness of the margin.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

just barely made it

Emphasizes the minimal margin by which something succeeded.

squeaked through

Suggests a tight and perhaps unexpected passage.

scraped by

Implies a difficult or challenging path to success.

passed by a hair's breadth

Highlights how small the margin of success was.

barely cleared

Focuses on overcoming a hurdle with minimal clearance.

edged through

Suggests a slow and cautious advancement past a threshold.

got through by the skin of its teeth

Emphasizes an extremely close call with potential failure.

was almost defeated

Highlights the near possibility of failure before ultimate success.

succeeded by a slim margin

Explicitly mentions the small difference between success and failure.

won by a whisker

A more informal way of saying that something nearly failed, focusing on the small difference between winning and losing.

FAQs

What does "narrowly passed" mean?

It means that something, such as a bill or a motion, was approved but only by a small margin. The vote could have easily gone the other way.

What can I say instead of "narrowly passed"?

You can use alternatives like "just barely made it", "squeaked through", or "scraped by" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "narrowly passed" or "passed narrowly"?

"Narrowly passed" is generally preferred and more common. "Passed narrowly" is grammatically correct but less frequently used.

Can "narrowly passed" be used in contexts other than voting or legislation?

Yes, although it's most common in political contexts, it can be used to describe any situation where success was achieved by a small margin, such as someone who "squeaked through" a difficult exam.