smooth passage

USAGE SUMMARY

"smooth passage" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a journey that is easy and without disruption or obstruction. For example, "Although the flight was long, it was a smooth passage and we arrived feeling surprisingly refreshed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

In exchange, Downing Street got smooth passage of the bill.

The Guardian - Opinion

Above all, Africa needs to smooth passage along its roads.

The Economist

But years of patronage and torrents of dollars can't guarantee smooth passage from the club scene to the mainstream.

The New York Times

It remained unclear whether Friday's cabinet changes would be enough to smooth passage of the tax increase.

The New York Times

He was 21. 6 June 1944, D-day: On LSJ 540 we made a smooth passage from outside Portsmouth waters to 'Le Hamel'.

The Guardian

The tortuous relationship between Serbia and Croatia has been overcome sufficiently to run these cross-border trains – creating at least one smooth passage for the tired and traumatised.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

The specific characteristic of the proposed method is that it constructs a globally connected neighborhood graph superimposed on the data set through technically building the smooth passages between separate clusters, instead of supplementing some rough inter-cluster connections like some existing methods.

Pattern Recognition

The narrow snout, for example, might permit a smoother passage through rivers and lakes, and the cone-shaped teeth would allow the dinosaur to better pierce and grasp a slippery fish.

Science Magazine

The bill repeals Section 233 of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Extension Act of 2011, allowing smoother passage of trade bills for another five years.

Huffington Post

To smooth our passage we thought a letter from the Foreign Office (FCO) would assist.

The Guardian - Opinion

President Johnson sought to bury or minimize economic projections to smooth the passage of Medicare.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "smooth passage" to describe a process, journey, or transition that occurs without significant obstacles or disruptions. It is suitable for both literal and figurative contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "smooth passage" when describing situations involving complex problem-solving or requiring significant effort, even if the outcome is ultimately successful. The phrase implies an inherent lack of difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "smooth passage" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a state of effortless progress or transition. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "smooth passage" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe an easy and unobstructed progression. According to Ludwig, it is versatile, appearing frequently in News & Media and Science, signaling its wide applicability. While the phrase conveys a sense of effortless advancement, it's important to consider the context and avoid applying it to situations where effort and problem-solving are central. Related phrases such as "seamless transition" and "easy journey" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seamless transition

Stresses the absence of disruption or discontinuity during a change.

easy journey

Focuses specifically on the journey aspect, implying a lack of difficulty.

unimpeded progress

Emphasizes the lack of obstacles in achieving a goal.

clear path

Suggests an unobstructed route towards a destination or objective.

effortless transition

Highlights the ease and lack of strain in moving from one state or situation to another.

plain sailing

Implies a period of ease and success without difficulties (idiomatic).

trouble-free progress

Indicates an advancement without problems or complications.

facilitated progress

Highlights actions that made the advance simpler and easier

easy advancement

Emphasizes simplicity and lack of resistance in making progress.

easy process

Focuses on the simplicity and lack of complications within a process.

FAQs

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

You can use "smooth passage" to describe a journey or process that is easy and without complications. For example, "The bill is expected to have a "smooth passage" through the Senate".

What's a more formal alternative to "smooth passage"?

A more formal alternative to "smooth passage" could be "unimpeded progress" or "seamless transition", depending on the specific context.

Is "smooth passage" only used for physical journeys?

No, "smooth passage" can be used figuratively to describe the easy progression of a bill through legislation, a project to completion, or any process that advances without significant obstacles.

What does it mean when someone says something had a "smooth passage"?

It means that the subject in question (a bill, a journey, a process, etc.) proceeded without significant problems, delays, or opposition.