pass off

pass (someone or something) off (as something else)

To pretend someone or something is, or disguise someone or something as, something else. I passed Jake off as my brother so he could take advantage of our family discount. There are always guys passing cheap watches off as Rolexes in this part of town.

See also: off, pass, something

pass off

To be carried out to completion. I was so nervous, but the ceremony passed off without a hitch.

See also: off, pass

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

pass someone or something off

(on someone) (as someone or something) Go to palm someone or something off (on someone) (as someone or something).

See also: off, pass

pass something off (on someone) (as something)

 and pass something off

to get rid of something deceptively by giving or selling it to someone as something else. I passed the rhinestone off on John as a diamond. Don't try to pass that fake off on me! He couldn't pass off the stone on the clever jeweler.

See also: off, pass

pass something off

(as something) Go to shrug something off (as something).

See also: off, pass

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

pass off

1. Misrepresent something or someone, as in They tried to pass off that piece of glass as a gemstone, or Bill passed her off as his sister. [Late 1700s] Also see palm off.

2. Be completed or carried out, take place, as in The meeting passed off without incident. [Late 1700s]

See also: off, pass

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pass off

v.

1. To offer, sell, or circulate something that is an imitation as though it were genuine: Some dishonest merchants are able to pass off glass as a gemstone.

2. To present someone as something else. Often used reflexively: He tried to pass himself off as a banker, even though he has no experience in finance. The clever spy passed herself off as a store clerk. My friend passed the refugee off as a visiting cousin when the landlord asked who he was.

3. To disregard or ignore something by considering it to have some negative quality: I passed his snide comment off as a joke. They pass off everything I say as ignorant.

See also: off, pass

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.