passing figure

USAGE SUMMARY

"passing figure" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone or something that is only briefly noticed or not significant. For example, "In the crowded room, she was just a passing figure among the throng." Alternative expressions include "fleeting presence" and "transient figure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

With each passing year, with each passing generation, with each passing figure, we move closer and closer to what America can be.

The New Yorker

The ligand passing figure shows an overlap of several simulation trajectories, suggesting that the ligand passing model output is not sensitive to changes in the koff parameter.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

If, for example, you are filming a group of people in the distance and someone walks in front of your shot, your auto-focus will re-adjust to capture the passing figure, throwing your distant subject out of focus.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

(What director in his right mind would drop Tina Fey from the proceedings?) It's a curious elision, because, until now, some of the best lines have belonged to passing figures; I especially liked the woman at the reception desk, in a restaurant, who welcomes the ravishing Anna with the words "Hi, I'm threatened by you".

The New Yorker

Just two weeks ago the N.F.L. was enjoying a period of remarkable stability at quarterback, which surely helped inflate the early-season scoring and passing figures that generated the hand-wringing over whether the fundamental essence of football was being lost to the spread offense.

The New York Times - Sports

In all of the curves, the current stabilized after enough time has passed (Figure 1A).

Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry

Therefore, we compared the horizontal simulated sea surface temperature distributions (Figure 10f,g,h,i,j) and the differences between the simulations using the uncoupled and coupled models (Figure 11) with those for the TRMM/TMI sea surface temperatures (Figure 3e,f,g,h), and the differences between before and after the typhoon had passed (Figure 3i,j,k,l).

Progress in Earth and Planetary Science

Such a strategy would come into play when the ball initially is heading to the side on which it will also finally pass (Figures 2 and 4).

Plosone

Virginia Tech scored on its next four possessions, and Bryan Randall, its junior quarterback, rolled up impressive passing figures: 16 of 22 for 250 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception.

The New York Times - Sports

He joins India's Sachin Tendulkar and Raul Dravid, and ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting in passing the figure.

BBC

Both runs have high sequence quality with 95% of the bases passing Q20 (Figure S1.1).

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "passing figure" to describe someone or something briefly noticed or not significant in a scene or event. For instance, describing a background character in a film or a minor detail in a larger narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "passing figure" to describe a main character or a focal point of attention. The phrase implies a lack of importance or permanence, which is unsuitable for central elements in a story or situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "passing figure" primarily functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It modifies a noun (usually a person or object) to indicate that they are transient or of little significance in the given context. Ludwig examples illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "passing figure" serves as a descriptive noun phrase, denoting someone or something fleeting and often insignificant within a context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for both formal and informal descriptive writing, typically found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this expression, avoid applying it to central characters or significant elements, as it diminishes their importance. Alternative phrases, such as "fleeting presence" or "transient form", offer similar connotations. "Passing figure" is not a very common expression, so when looking for it, you might want to consider some alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fleeting presence

Emphasizes the brief duration of someone or something's existence or appearance.

transient presence

Emphasizes the brief duration of someone or something's existence.

transient form

Highlights the temporary nature and changing shape of something.

temporary form

Implies the not permanent state of something.

brief apparition

Implies a sudden and short-lived appearance, often with a sense of mystery or unreality.

momentary glimpse

Focuses on the fleeting nature of the visual experience.

fleeting glimpse

Focuses on the transient nature of the visual experience.

ephemeral entity

Stresses the short-lived and insubstantial nature of something.

passing shadow

Highlights the fleeting nature of something.

vanishing image

Highlights the disappearance or fading away of a visual representation.

FAQs

How can I use "passing figure" in a sentence?

You can use "passing figure" to describe someone or something that appears briefly and is not significant, such as "In the crowded market, she was just a "passing figure" among the shoppers".

What can I say instead of "passing figure"?

You can use alternatives like "fleeting presence", "transient form", or "brief apparition" depending on the context.

What does "passing figure" imply?

The term "passing figure" implies that the person or object being described is not important, significant, or permanent in the context. It suggests a brief and often unnoticed presence.

Is "passing figure" formal or informal language?

"Passing figure" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more commonly found in descriptive writing or narrative contexts where the goal is to highlight the fleeting nature of something.