secure passage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "secure passage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where safety and protection during travel or movement are emphasized. Example: "The government has ensured secure passage for all citizens fleeing the conflict zone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Their goal is to quietly secure passage of the first immigration overhaul in a quarter century.

The New York Times

But he feared that Republican leaders would secure passage by attaching it to another bill.

The New York Times

To secure passage to France, O'Neill will probably have to get some difficult decisions right.

The Guardian - Sport

But the bill does not yet have the 60 votes needed to secure passage in the Senate.

The Economist

Gould was able to bribe legislators in Albany to secure passage of a bill legalizing what they had done.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But in their zeal to secure passage of the legislation last fall, they played down concerns about the cost.

The New York Times

The city's increasingly ubiquitous fingerprint scanners allow its citizens easier and more secure passage to and fro.

The Guardian

Nor were even her indomitable presence and relentless energy enough to secure passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.

The New York Times

Two years later, she led the effort to secure passage of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The New York Times

He negotiated a deal with Malcolm Turnbull of the opposition Liberal Party of Australia to secure passage of the bill in the Senate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Liberal activists who helped Mr. Obama get elected in 2008 criticized him for trading away a public insurance option to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing legislative or policy approval, use "secure passage" to emphasize the effort and strategy involved in ensuring a bill or amendment is successfully passed. For instance, "The senator worked tirelessly to "secure passage" of the new environmental bill".

Common error

While "secure passage" is widely understood, it carries a formal tone. In casual conversation, simpler phrases like "safe trip" or "get through" may be more appropriate. Using "secure passage" in informal settings may sound overly formal or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "secure passage" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "secure" acts as a transitive verb and "passage" serves as its object. Ludwig's examples show it often describes ensuring safe transit or obtaining approval for a bill or law.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

19%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "secure passage" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that conveys the idea of ensuring safe transit or successfully passing legislation. Ludwig AI confirms this, with multiple examples from reputable sources. While versatile, it's best suited for neutral to formal contexts. When describing movement, consider alternatives like "ensure safe transit". For legislative contexts, "obtain approval" might be more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ensure safe transit

Focuses on the safety aspect during transportation, emphasizing a trouble-free journey.

enable secure transit

Focuses on the enabling aspect for safe transportation, suggesting necessary conditions are met.

guarantee protected travel

Highlights the guarantee of protection during travel, suggesting a higher level of security measures.

assure unimpeded movement

Emphasizes the lack of obstacles during movement, focusing on ease of passage.

facilitate safe crossing

Highlights making a crossing (like a border or territory) safe and easier.

clear the way

Implies removing obstacles or barriers to allow for unobstructed movement.

obtain approval

Shifts the focus from physical movement to gaining approval or consent for a proposal or action.

win approval

Similar to "obtain approval", but suggests a more competitive or challenging process to gain acceptance.

gain acceptance

Emphasizes the achievement of being accepted or agreed upon, particularly in a legislative or social context.

pass successfully

Focuses on the successful passing of something, like a bill or resolution, through a process.

FAQs

How can I use "secure passage" in a sentence?

You can use "secure passage" to describe ensuring safe movement or successfully passing a law. For example, "The troops were sent to "secure passage" through the dangerous territory" or "The president needed to gain votes to "secure passage" of the bill".

What phrases are similar to "secure passage"?

Alternatives include "ensure safe transit", "guarantee protected travel", or "assure unimpeded movement" when referring to movement. For legislative contexts, consider "obtain approval" or "gain acceptance".

Is it better to say "safe passage" or "secure passage"?

"Safe passage" generally refers to a journey free from danger, while "secure passage" implies actions taken to ensure that safety. While both can be used interchangeably in many contexts, "secure passage" often suggests a more active effort to protect the movement.

When should I use "secure passage" in a formal context?

Use "secure passage" in formal contexts such as legal documents, news reports, or academic papers when discussing ensuring the safe movement of people or goods through potentially dangerous areas, or when referring to the process of ensuring a bill or law is passed successfully.