Everyday French phrases with the verb ‘passer’

French verbs, as in any other language, are often the basis for expressions, especially when they have more than one meaning.

The verb passer is a classic example that can be employed in many different ways.

This means there is no shortage of idiomatic expressions using passer, many of which are useful in everyday conversation. 

Passer un savon à quelqu’un - To scold someone

Passer un savon is the equivalent of to give someone an earful or to scold someone. 

It comes from the time when people would wash their clothes with a washboard and soap and is associated with the violence required to scrub the clothes. 

For example, Le prof lui a passé un savon pour son retard (The teacher gave him a scolding for being late).

This is also the origin of the expression laver la tête which has the same meaning of telling someone off in a severe way.

Passer l’éponge - To forgive and forget

Literally translating as "to pass the sponge" this idiom means to let go of past mistakes or to forgive someone. 

Après leur dispute, ils ont décidé de passer l'éponge. (After their argument, they decided to forgive and forget.)

Passer une nuit blanche - to do an all nighter

Passer une nuit blanche means to have a sleepless night. 

It can be used both in the sense of intending to do it, for example to stay up to party, or the idea of not being able to get any sleep.

Parents with a new baby may passent une nuit blanche, for example.

J'ai passé une nuit blanche à cause du stress. (I had a sleepless night because of stress.)

Passer sous silence - To keep quiet about / To ignore

This phrase means to deliberately not mention or omit something from a conversation or report.

Ils ont passé sous silence les erreurs dans leur article. (They kept quiet about the mistakes in their report.)

Read more: Seven English words you might not realise are French

Passer à côté de quelque chose - To miss out on something

This expression is used when someone does not take advantage of something or misses out on an opportunity.

En refusant ce travail, elle a passé à côté d'une grande opportunité. (He missed out on a great opportunity by refusing that job.) 

Similarly, laisser passer sa chance (to let your opportunity pass you by) means to let an opportunity slip away without taking it. 

Passer du coq à l’âne - To jump from one topic to another

This idiom, which literally means "to go from the rooster to the donkey," describes someone who changes subjects abruptly in a conversation.

Passer un coup de fil - To make a phone call

A great one to use in everyday conversation, passer un coup de fil is a very casual way of saying "to call someone”. 

Je vais lui passer un coup de fil pour confirmer notre rendez-vous ce soir (I'm going to give him a call to confirm our meeting this evening). It is commonly used in France.

Read more: Learning French: 8 handy French phrases using the word pouce

Passer la main - To hand over / To step down

This expression is used when someone is stepping down from a position of responsibility or handing over their duties to someone else.

Passer un mauvais quart d'heure - To have a tough time

Translating to "to spend a bad quarter of an hour," this phrase is used to describe a brief but difficult or unpleasant experience.

J'ai passé un mauvais quart d'heure en essayant de réparer mon four. (I had a tough time trying to fix my oven.)

Ne pas passer par quatre chemins - To get straight to the point

This expression means to be direct and not beat around the bush.

Elle n'est pas passée par quatre chemins pour annoncer la mauvaise nouvelle (She didn’t beat around the bush to announce the bad news).

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