pass for now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pass for now" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a particular action should be delayed or postponed without completely abandoning it. For example, "I think we should pass for now and revisit this issue later."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

But let that pass for now.

The Guardian - Opinion

He's been described by fellow troubadour Frank Turner as "the last of the great romantic poets", which is far-fetched to the point of absurdity, but we'll let it pass for now.

The Guardian - Music

"Why should people who have been funding these bad loans get a free pass?" For now, the burden falls on people like Ms. Brimmage, a former forklift driver at an Owens-Brockway Glass Container plant in Godfrey, Ill., that closed last fall.

The New York Times

Continental threw itself at Delta, which ultimately decided to pass for now.

Forbes

If done wrong, they will get the infamous, "It's a pass, for now".

TechCrunch

American Airlines, the second most complained-about company on the site, says it will pass for now.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The balance of power in commodities markets has passed, for now, from buyers to suppliers.

The Economist

We are passing, for now, because it is not a story that can be proven to the level we demand".

The Guardian - Opinion

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla .— Leilani Munter once worked as a photo double for the actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, but that is not the celebrity she most often passes for now.

The New York Times - Sports

With the Jets passing for now on the chance to sign a big, veteran receiver like Sean Dawkins or Carl Pickens, the group of receivers they have in camp will be charged with making up for Johnson's 89 receptions.

The New York Times - Sports

Another sign that a period of acute crisis has passed — for now, at least — will be the absence of Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the I.M.F., which with the European Commission and the European Central Bank makes up the so-called troika that has already overseen bailouts for Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pass for now" to indicate a temporary decision or postponement. This suggests a willingness to revisit the issue later, rather than rejecting it outright.

Common error

Avoid using "pass for now" when you intend to permanently reject something. It implies a temporary deferral, not a final decision. Use stronger language like "reject" or "decline" if the decision is final.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pass for now" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating a temporary decision to postpone or defer something. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, similar to examples found across varied sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pass for now" is a grammatically sound and usable English phrase that indicates a temporary decision to postpone or set aside something without permanently rejecting it. Ludwig AI confirms this, noting its usage across various reputable sources. It's most frequently encountered in news and media contexts and serves to convey a sense of flexibility or willingness to revisit the issue later. Related phrases include "defer for the moment" and "set aside for now". When using "pass for now", ensure that you intend to convey a temporary decision, not a permanent one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

set aside for now

Indicates a temporary removal from consideration.

postpone for the present

Implies a formal delay until some point in the future.

defer for the moment

Emphasizes a temporary postponement until a later, unspecified time.

suspend for the time being

Indicates that an activity or process is temporarily stopped.

hold off for the time being

Suggests delaying an action, with an implication that the situation may change.

delay until later

A straightforward expression of postponing something.

table it temporarily

Implies the item or topic is being set aside for later discussion or action.

put on hold provisionally

Indicates a conditional delay, subject to future circumstances.

leave for future consideration

Highlights that the matter will be addressed at a later date.

shelve for the interim

Suggests a more definite, but still temporary, removal from consideration.

FAQs

What does "pass for now" mean?

The phrase "pass for now" indicates a temporary decision to postpone or set aside something without permanently rejecting it. It suggests the possibility of revisiting the issue later.

How can I use "pass for now" in a sentence?

You can use "pass for now" to express a temporary deferral, such as "We'll "pass for now" on this proposal and revisit it next quarter."

What can I say instead of "pass for now"?

You can use alternatives like "defer for the moment", "set aside for now", or "postpone for the present depending on the context.

Is "pass for now" formal or informal?

"Pass for now" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it might be more common in business or conversational settings.