passed us by

USAGE SUMMARY

"passed us by" is correct and usable in written English.
"Passed us by" is a phrase that is used to describe anything that has happened quickly, without affecting or including us. For example, "The summer passed us by in the blink of an eye."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"What we found out this year was the rest of the world has passed us by". "The rest of the world is far less tolerant of underperforming C.E.O.'s than we are," he added.

The New York Times

Mary Robinson expressed her deepest regrets about the inaction of political leaders at Rio+20: "This possibility of a once in a generation moment passed us by". In her view, the only way forward to a sustainable society is through civil organising.

The Guardian

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

The market opportunities could have passed us by".

The New York Times

That moment may not have completely passed us by.

The New York Times

It just felt like Christmas had completely passed us by.

The Guardian - Sport

When You Were Mine Nothing passed us by.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passed us by" to describe missed opportunities or trends to emphasize a sense of being left behind or outdated.

Common error

Avoid using "passed us by" when you actually mean someone or something actively ignored you. The phrase implies a lack of interaction, not intentional avoidance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passed us by" primarily functions as a verb phrase indicating that something has eluded, bypassed, or been missed. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes events, opportunities, or trends that occurred without affecting or involving the subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "passed us by" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that has been missed or has gone unnoticed. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is useful in describing events or opportunities that have not affected or involved the subject. While the phrase sees frequent use in News & Media sources, it is also suitable in neutral contexts. Related phrases like "eluded us" or "bypassed us" can offer nuanced alternatives depending on the intended meaning. Use it to express a sense of missed opportunity or being left behind, but be mindful of the implied lack of active involvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we missed

A straightforward way to say something was not experienced or taken advantage of.

bypassed us

Suggests that something went around rather than through or affecting.

slipped away from us

Emphasizes the gradual and almost imperceptible nature of something disappearing.

eluded us

Suggests something subtle that was missed, often an opportunity or understanding.

left us behind

Highlights a sense of being outdated or not progressing at the same pace.

escaped us

Implies a narrow avoidance or that something went unnoticed.

flowed past us

Conveys a sense of continuous movement without direct impact.

overtook us

Indicates being surpassed, often in a competitive context.

gone by

A simple expression for the passage of time.

faded from our view

Emphasizes the gradual disappearance or decline of something.

FAQs

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

Use "passed us by" to indicate that an opportunity, trend, or event occurred without affecting or involving you. For example, "The latest technological advancements have "passed us by" since we haven't upgraded our systems."

What can I say instead of "passed us by"?

You can use alternatives like "eluded us", "bypassed us", or "we missed" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "passed us by" or "past us by"?

"Passed us by" is the correct form. "Passed" is the past tense of "pass," while "past" is a noun or preposition indicating a previous time or location.

What's the difference between "passed us by" and "left us behind"?

"Passed us by" suggests something happened without our involvement, while "left us behind" implies a more active separation or a failure to keep pace with progress or others.