pass up

What does "pass up" mean?

1. To choose not to take an opportunity
2. To reject or refuse something offered

Examples

• You shouldn't pass up this opportunity.
• He passed up a chance to study abroad.
• I couldn't pass up such a great deal.
• She passed up the promotion to spend more time with family.
• Don't pass up the opportunity to meet her.

How to use it

Often used with 'opportunity', 'chance', or 'offer'. 'Too good to pass up' is a common expression.

Word order

Object can go between: 'pass this chance up' or after: 'pass up this chance'.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• pass out

  To lose consciousness; to faint

• pass away

  To die (euphemism)

• pass on

  To give information or a message to someone else

• pass by

  To go past a place or person

• pass through

  To travel through a place without stopping

• get up

  To rise from bed after sleeping