quite past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite past" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It is not commonly used and lacks clarity in meaning, making it difficult to determine when it could be appropriately used. Example: "The event is quite past the scheduled time."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The challenge is how to complete a particular story and leave the audience with the understanding that the narrative is not finished, that the past, to modify everyone's favorite Faulkner quote, is not quite past.

The New York Times

It means that you've retained some flexibility, can learn things, might change; it means that you're not quite past hope, even if the path of instruction will be singularly arduous.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While Big Jim is dealing with the ghosts of his not-quite-past, Barbie and Linda decide to visit Reverend Coggins' funeral home for evidence of drugs.

Huffington Post

It's a place where the quite distant past and our more recent past meet our present.

Huffington Post

Call it 'the Tarantino Tense' – neither quite the past nor quite the present, where both past and present mingle behind the red-rope of genre knowingness and technological facility.

The Guardian - Film

But I can't quite get past the math.

The New York Times

But the country never quite got past the pets-or-meat problem.

The New York Times

Traci Gilchrest usually seemed much too young to be Blanche, a woman with quite a past.

The New York Times - Arts

The 1989-90 convulsion may now be part of history, but it is still not quite the past.

The New York Times

It's not quite your past or present versus your future, but there is an element of that".

The New York Times

She doesn't fault the town for her gardening woes, yet she can't quite get past them.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "quite past", consider using more common and clearer alternatives like "well past" or "long gone" to avoid confusion and ensure your writing is easily understood. For instance, instead of saying "The deadline is quite past", say "The deadline is well past".

Common error

Avoid using "quite past" when you mean "well past". "Quite" typically softens the meaning, whereas "well" strengthens it. Using "quite past" can create ambiguity, as it is not a standard or widely recognized phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite past" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, attempting to modify the concept of "past". However, it's not a standard construction. Ludwig identifies the phrase as uncommon and suggests that it may cause confusion because is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite past" is not a standard or commonly used expression in English. As Ludwig clarifies, its meaning can be ambiguous, making it less effective for clear communication. While it appears in some news and media sources, better alternatives like "well past", "long gone", or "considerably later" offer clearer and more grammatically sound ways to express the intended meaning. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid "quite past" in favor of these more conventional options to ensure clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

well beyond

Emphasizes that something is significantly further in time or degree, instead of 'moderately past'.

long gone

Indicates that something is far in the past and no longer relevant. Replaces the qualifier 'quite' with a stronger term.

far behind

Highlights that something has been left behind, either literally or figuratively. Focuses on the distance from a current point.

considerably later

Stresses the significant amount of time that has elapsed. This is a more formal alternative.

substantially over

Indicates that something has exceeded a certain limit or duration by a notable amount. Implies a completion or surpassing of something.

significantly ahead

Highlights a lead or advantage, in terms of time or progress. Suggests being in a more advanced position.

considerably advanced

Similar to "significantly ahead", but implies greater progress.

considerably onward

The expression captures the same idea of having progressed to a significant degree.

thoroughly completed

This conveys the idea of being finished with something to a great extent.

fully resolved

Indicates that a situation or problem has been completely dealt with and is no longer an issue.

FAQs

What does "quite past" mean?

The phrase "quite past" is not standard English and its meaning can be unclear. Depending on the intended meaning, alternatives like "well past" or "considerably later" might be more appropriate.

Is it grammatically correct to say "quite past"?

No, the phrase "quite past" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use more common and accepted phrases such as "well past" or "long gone".

What can I say instead of "quite past"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "well past", "long gone", "considerably later", or "far behind" to express a similar idea.

How can I use "well past" in a sentence?

You can use "well past" to indicate that something is beyond a certain point in time or degree. For example, "The deadline is well past" or "His bedtime is well past 9 PM".