too many passes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "too many passes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where an excessive number of passes or attempts have been made, often in a sports context or when discussing processes. Example: "The team lost the game because they made too many passes instead of taking a shot at the goal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

Too many passes, guys.

The New Yorker

The wide receivers drop too many passes.

The New York Times

We lost too many balls, too many passes.

The Guardian - Sport

Romania struggled to settle, their play undermined by nervousness, too many passes going astray.

The Guardian - Sport

Too many passes went astray and the few chances that were created by the Devils were narrowly missed.

The New York Times - Sports

Navas' goal came moments after Iniesta and Fabregas failed to convert late opportunities, with the European champions guilty of trying to string together one too many passes.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

Center Lyle Sendlein made too many pass protection errors last season.

The New York Times

Perhaps that will change, but you can never have too many pass rushers anyway.

The New York Times

Turns out, the Giants have too many pass-rushing defensive ends.

The New York Times

He has four Super Bowl rings, three Super Bowl most valuable player trophies and too many passing records to recount.

The New York Times - Sports

Petrino was criticized for calling too many pass plays when the Razorbacks had the lead, giving the Warhawks enough time to come back.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "too many passes" in sports writing, consider specifying why the passes were detrimental. For example, were they slowing down the play, missing opportunities for shots, or leading to turnovers?

Common error

Avoid using "too many passes" when the issue isn't the quantity but the quality of the passes. If passes are inaccurate or poorly timed, focus on those aspects instead of merely stating there were too many.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "too many passes" functions as a commentary or critique, often within the context of sports or strategic planning. It serves to point out an excess or over-reliance on passing, implying inefficiency or missed opportunities. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "too many passes" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, as reported by Ludwig AI. It is typically employed in sports or strategic contexts to criticize an over-reliance on passing, suggesting inefficiency or missed opportunities. While it is frequently found in news and media sources, it can also be used in more informal settings. When using the phrase, it's essential to provide context by specifying why the passing is considered detrimental, whether it's slowing down the play, missing shooting chances, or leading to turnovers. Alternatives such as "excessive passing" or "unnecessary passing" can also be considered based on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

too much passing

Similar to "too many passes" but uses "much" to describe the quantity, suitable for non-countable nouns.

excessive passing

Replaces "too many" with a more concise adjective, maintaining the core meaning of overdoing the passing.

unnecessary passing

Highlights that the passes were not needed, suggesting a better alternative action was available.

needless passes

Synonymous with "unnecessary passes", emphasizing the lack of requirement for the passes.

over passing

A shorter alternative emphasizing the act of passing being done excessively.

superfluous passes

A more formal alternative indicating that the passes were beyond what was necessary or sufficient.

a surplus of passes

Emphasizes the abundance of passes made, often implying they were unnecessary.

overabundance of passes

Highlights the excessive quantity of passes, suggesting it's more than required or beneficial.

excessive ball movement

Broadens the scope to general ball movement instead of specifically passes, still implying it's overdone.

over reliance on passing

Focuses on the dependence on passing as a strategy, suggesting it's being used too frequently.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says there are "too many passes" in a game?

It usually means that a team is overcomplicating their play by passing the ball excessively instead of taking a more direct approach, such as shooting or advancing the ball quickly. It suggests inefficiency or a lack of decisiveness.

What can I say instead of "too many passes"?

You can use alternatives like "excessive passing", "unnecessary passing", or "overly frequent passes" depending on the context.

In what situations might "too many passes" be a bad thing?

It's generally negative when a team prioritizes passing to an extreme, missing clear opportunities to score or advance. For example, in soccer, a team might make "too many crosses" instead of shooting.

How does "too many passes" differ from good teamwork?

"Too many passes" implies the passing is unproductive or detrimental, hindering progress. Good teamwork involves effective passing that creates scoring chances and advances the team's goals efficiently, without excessive or needless ball movement.