pass on the offer

USAGE SUMMARY

"pass on the offer" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when declining an offer, to express that you are not interested in taking the offer and passing it on to someone else. Example: "Thank you for the job offer, but I think I will pass on the offer and look for other opportunities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The Shuberts took a pass on the offer.

The New York Times

They were expected to pass on the offer, freeing Krstic's path to Oklahoma City...

The New York Times - Sports

"If they pass on the offer, they remain open to everything the world might have in store for them, but they stay in Indecision Land a little longer.

BBC

And it's worth asking, might Snyder have decided to pass on the offer, preferring to stick to what he'd previously said he wanted to focus on -- telling Superman stories and making sure that character's franchise has been developed enough -- instead of taking on two team-up movies one right after the other?

Forbes

But when I ask my "non-theatre" friends to explore the vibrant Chicago theatre scene with me, they usually pass on the offer.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

They show up wearing their homemade "Drew Is the Man" T-shirts, erupting with high-decibel elation whenever Rich Fields, the announcer, asks one of them to "come on down!" And Mr. Carey, who initially passed on the offer to succeed Mr. Barker, seems equally pleased to be there.

The New York Times - Arts

She passed on the offer.

The New York Times

According to Variety, the actor has passed on the offer to play the leader of the superhero team.

Independent

They said in an interview that some of the guests passed on the offer to stay in the farm's cabins and instead booked themselves at the local bed and breakfast.

The New York Times

Lewis had been asked to do television commentary for Tyson's bout against Julius Francis, the British heavyweight champion, but Lewis passed on the offer and instead spent his time on the beach in Jamaica.

The New York Times - Sports

They looked at the monstrous 345-page prospectus describing the split-off that created Liberty and passed on the offer.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pass on the offer", ensure the context clearly indicates you are declining something, not simply forwarding it to someone else. A follow-up explanation is often helpful.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by explicitly stating your reason for declining the offer. Without context, "pass on the offer" could be mistaken for forwarding it to someone else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pass on the offer" functions as a verb phrase, typically used to indicate the rejection or declination of a proposal or opportunity. Ludwig shows that this phrase is used in various contexts to convey that someone has chosen not to accept something offered to them.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pass on the offer" is a way to express a decision to decline or reject a proposal. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase. While its usage is relatively rare, it is generally appropriate for both casual and professional contexts, though it is crucial to provide enough context to prevent misinterpretation. Alternative phrases like "decline the offer" or "reject the offer" provide similar meanings with slight differences in formality and emphasis. The phrase is primarily found in news and media sources, and is deemed grammatically correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

take a pass on the offer

Uses a slightly different idiomatic expression with the same core meaning.

decline the offer

Uses a more formal verb, "decline", instead of the phrasal verb "pass on".

reject the offer

Implies a stronger refusal than "pass on".

turn down the offer

A common and slightly more informal alternative to "reject".

refuse the offer

Similar to "reject", but can sometimes imply a moral objection.

say no to the offer

A more direct and less nuanced way of expressing rejection.

not accept the offer

A straightforward and unambiguous way to decline.

opt out of the offer

Suggests a choice not to participate.

give the offer a miss

An informal way of saying no to something.

walk away from the offer

Suggests a deliberate decision to abandon the offer.

FAQs

What does it mean to "pass on the offer"?

To "pass on the offer" means to decline or reject an offer that has been made to you.

Is it better to "pass on the offer" or to decline?

Whether to use "pass on the offer" or "decline the offer" depends on the context. "Pass on" is more informal while "decline" is more formal.

What's a less direct way to "pass on the offer"?

A less direct way to "pass on the offer" is to say you're "not accepting the offer" without giving a definite reason.

When is it appropriate to use "pass on the offer"?

It's appropriate to use "pass on the offer" in both casual and professional settings when you want to politely decline something.