pass up

USAGE SUMMARY

"pass up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about declining or rejecting an offer or opportunity. For example, "I decided to pass up the job offer because it wasn't the right fit for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Don't pass up dessert.

The New York Times

Never pass up a drink.

The New Yorker

This was too good to pass up.

The New York Times - Sports

Too profitable to pass up.

The Guardian - Sport

"Don't pass up early completions," Sanchez said.

The New York Times - Sports

Warnings pass up the chain and disappear.

The New York Times - Books

Don't pass up the delicious cappuccino.

The New York Times - Travel

Never pass up a teaching moment.

The New Yorker

"You can't pass up a great player".

The New York Times - Sports

"Because it's too good to pass up".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Eventually, she found the offer too good to pass-up.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase is separable, meaning you can place the object between the two words (e.g., "pass the chance up"), though keeping them together is more common for longer objects.

Common error

Avoid using "pass up" as a synonym for physical movement like climbing or overtaking. In those cases, use "pass" or "go up". "pass up" should be reserved for the metaphorical act of declining an opportunity.

Linguistic Context

As a transitive phrasal verb, "pass up" requires a direct object, which is typically the opportunity being declined. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a fully acceptable and standard English expression used across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "pass up" is a versatile and correct expression in English, used primarily to describe the act of declining a desirable opportunity or offer. Ludwig AI shows that it is exceptionally common in high-quality journalism, such as in The New York Times and The Economist, where it often appears in contexts involving career moves, financial profits, and lifestyle choices. Whether you are writing a business report or a casual email, "pass up" serves as a natural and clear way to communicate rejection. Remember that while it is nearly synonymous with "turn down", it specifically highlights the value of what is being left behind.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

turn down

suggests a more direct or active refusal of an offer

decline

offers a more formal alternative for rejecting an invitation or opportunity

forgo

indicates doing without something desirable or beneficial

pass on

often used interchangeably in casual conversation to mean declining

reject

implies a firmer and more definitive dismissal

opt out of

focuses on the decision to not participate in something

miss out on

emphasizes the loss of the benefit rather than the act of refusal

give a miss

provides a more colloquial or British English alternative

let slip

suggests losing an opportunity through negligence rather than choice

spurn

implies rejecting something with disdain or contempt

FAQs

How to use "pass up" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe declining something beneficial, such as: "I couldn't "pass up" the opportunity to work abroad."

What is the difference between "pass up" and "turn down"?

While similar, "turn down" is often used for specific requests or invitations, whereas "pass up" is more commonly applied to broader opportunities or chances.

Can I say "pass on" instead of "pass up"?

Yes, "pass on" is frequently used as a synonym in casual contexts to mean declining an offer.

Is it correct to say "pass up on"?

While "pass up" is the standard form, adding "on" is increasingly common in informal speech, though ""pass up"" remains the preferred choice in formal writing.