Meaning trap
pass on
die gently
To die, used as a gentle expression that can have spiritual overtones.
phrasal verb
How oftenNow and then
LevelC1
Used inSpeech & writing
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
Her grandmother passed on peacefully at home.
When an older person passes on in my community, relatives usually come together to support the family.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: My grandfather passed out last year.
Say: My grandfather passed on last year.
'Pass out' means faint. For a gentle way to say someone died, use 'pass on' or 'pass away'.
Don't confuse it
Other ways to say it
Say that someone has died
How formalSlangRespectful
kick the bucketJoking or irreverent; inappropriate when offering sympathy.
pass onYou're here · A gentle expression for death, sometimes with spiritual overtones.
pass awayA respectful, gentle expression when discussing someone's death.Compare it
Where this one sits next to the phrases it gets mixed up with.