pass us by

USAGE SUMMARY

'pass us by' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to something that has been missed or overlooked. For example: The opportunity to travel to Japan was an experience we didn't want to pass us by.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Before, it felt like time couldn't pass us by faster!

Huffington Post

We're letting the world pass us by".

The New Yorker

"I was afraid that people would pass us by".

The New York Times

Unfortunately, these ubiquitous learning experiences tend to pass us by.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

If we do, generations will pass us by".

The New York Times

We watched cab after cab pass us by.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

I still use it while the rest of the computer world has passed us by.

HuffPost

Meanwhile, other countries have passed us by".

The New York Times

But the parade has passed us by.

The Guardian - Books

"The boom has passed us by, and the bust has passed us by".

The New York Times

Some of our American dreams have passed us by.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pass us by" to emphasize a missed opportunity or a trend that's developing without your involvement. For example, "If we don't invest in technology, the future will pass us by".

Common error

Avoid using "pass us by" in overly passive constructions. Instead of "We were passed by the opportunity", say "The opportunity passed us by" for a clearer, more direct statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pass us by" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as the predicate in a sentence. It describes an action where something is missed, overlooked, or avoided. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pass us by" is a very common idiomatic phrase used to describe missed opportunities or a failure to keep pace with trends. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, particularly in News & Media. To avoid common errors, ensure the phrase is used in active constructions and consider alternative phrasing to emphasize specific nuances of meaning, such as "elude us" or "escape our notice".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be overlooked by us

Emphasizes the act of being ignored, contrasting with 'pass us by' which could be due to external factors or choices.

be missed by us

Highlights a sense of loss or regret due to something not being experienced, unlike 'pass us by' which may not carry the same emotional weight.

escape our notice

Indicates something wasn't observed or noticed, contrasting with 'pass us by' which can imply awareness but lack of engagement.

go unnoticed by us

Focuses on the lack of recognition, subtly differing from 'pass us by' which can imply recognition but non-interaction.

elude us

Suggests something is difficult to grasp or achieve, differing in focusing on comprehension or attainment rather than mere passing.

be lost on us

Indicates a lack of impact or understanding, unlike 'pass us by' which refers to missing an experience or opportunity.

slip through our fingers

Conveys a sense of lost opportunity, adding a layer of agency and potential control not explicit in the original phrase.

bypass us

Suggests a deliberate avoidance, especially in physical or strategic contexts, differing in implying a conscious decision.

evade us

Indicates something actively avoids us, adding a sense of intentionality not present in 'pass us by'.

get away from us

Conveys a sense of losing control or failing to retain something, adding a nuance of responsibility not in the original.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "passes us by"?

When something "passes us by", it means we've missed an opportunity, failed to notice something important, or haven't kept pace with a trend. It suggests a sense of being left behind or excluded.

How can I use "pass us by" in a sentence?

You can use "pass us by" to describe missed opportunities or trends. For example, "If we don't innovate, the competition will "overtake us" and the market will "pass us by".

What are some alternatives to "pass us by"?

Alternatives include "elude us", "escape our notice", or "be overlooked by us", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "passed us by" or "pass us by"?

The correct tense depends on the context. Use "passed us by" for something that has already happened (e.g., "The chance has passed us by"). Use "pass us by" for something that could happen in the future (e.g., "We must act now, or the opportunity will pass us by").