please pass that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "please pass that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting someone to hand over an object or item, typically in a casual or informal context. Example: "During dinner, I turned to my friend and said, 'Please pass that salt shaker over here.'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Please pass that link around.

The New York Times

At one point Crawford tells his friend Jim Stark, who is loosely based on Kinder himself, "Will you please pass that joint, please," echoing Carver's most famous title as well as his distinctive manner of speech.

The New York Times - Books

Please, pass that message around to your constituency.

TechCrunch

(Someone please pass that model a disinfecting wipe!) To reduce your sponge’s ick factor, get in the habit of giving it a quick daily cleaning by rinsing it in hot soapy water, running it through the microwave for a minute and/or tossing it in the dishwasher.

HuffPost

"Please pass that on.

The New Yorker

Any apprehension on my part was misplaced, as he shook my hand firmly and said he wanted to thank me, and all of us, for volunteering, and how wonderful we had all been, and would I please pass that on.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This area can be rife with excuses for opening a conversation such as "Could you please pass me that magazine you're in front of?" to "I can't find the last copy of "X" - oh look!

WikiHow

I want them to be able to spend a year abroad in Beijing, or Naples, without sounding like the bucktoothed hick saying "would you please pass the jelly?" in that old Polaner All-Fruit ad.

The New York Times

Please pass my name to companies that can provide me with information that can help".

The New York Times - Tech

Short of that, sorry, please pass the ketchup.

The New Yorker

At first he'd almost been funny: "Somebody comes, somebody goes," he'd said on the birth of a niece, and one day at lunch, "Please pass the cream cheese," then, deadpan, "That's all I'll miss".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using “please pass that”, ensure the item being requested is clearly visible or understood in the context to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using “please pass that” in highly formal or professional communications. Opt for more formal alternatives like "could you please hand me that" to maintain a respectful tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "please pass that" functions as a polite imperative, used to request someone to hand over a specific item. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable. Examples show its use in everyday requests.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "please pass that" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood phrase used to politely request an item. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It is most frequently found in news, media and informal contexts. While versatile, it is best suited for neutral to informal settings. For more formal situations, consider alternatives like "could you hand me that". Its directness and politeness make it effective in everyday communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

please hand me that

Substitutes "pass" with "hand", maintaining a similar level of formality.

kindly hand that over

Replaces "please pass" with a more formal "kindly hand".

could you give me that, please

Changes the request to a question format, adding politeness at the end.

would you mind passing that

Presents the request as a question of willingness.

can you pass that, please

A slightly more direct, yet still polite, request.

could you possibly pass that

Adds emphasis to the politeness of the request.

if you could pass that, I'd appreciate it

Expresses gratitude in advance for the action.

would you be so kind as to pass that

A more elaborate and polite way of asking.

pass that here, if you would

Inverts the structure slightly while maintaining the core request.

if you don't mind, pass that

Introduces a conditional clause emphasizing courtesy.

FAQs

How to use "please pass that" in a sentence?

You can use "please pass that" when you want to politely ask someone to hand you something, like "Please pass that salt shaker."

What can I say instead of "please pass that"?

You can use alternatives like "could you hand me that", "please hand me that", or "would you mind passing that" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "please pass that" or "can you pass that"?

Both phrases are correct, but "please pass that" is generally considered more polite than "can you pass that".

What's the difference between "please pass that" and "please pass it on"?

"Please pass that" is used to request a physical object, while "please pass it on" is used to ask someone to share information or a message with others.