hard pass
(informal, idiomatic) An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.
Seen in the wild
A huge catalyst for leaving Hollywood was my insane mother insisting that 18 to 20-yo me needed a bobbed nose, a blonde wig, and a set of 38-Ds. Shudder. That was a hard pass. I have all the original parts.
Hard pass. I guess I won't be too upset about the 50s here today.
Imagine asking Washington for permission to read a book. Hard pass. Sign the petition against the Federal Book Ban Bill. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social #read #reading #library #libraries action.everylibrary.org/hr…
Come for the game, stay because you are imprisoned for having Bluesky on your phone. Hard pass.
It's so frustrating. There's a business with "patriot" in the name I've seen ads for online several times. Every time I think "yeah, we know what a lot of people in this country think 'patriot' means. Hard pass".
Definitions
(informal, idiomatic) An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.
“Come for the game, stay because you are imprisoned for having Bluesky on your phone. Hard pass.”
“It's so frustrating. There's a business with "patriot" in the name I've seen ads for online several times. Every time I think "yeah, we know what a lot of people in this country think 'patriot' means. Hard pass".”
“Imagine asking Washington for permission to read a book. Hard pass. Sign the petition against the Federal Book Ban Bill. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social #read #reading #library #libraries action.everylibrary.org/hr_7661”
The reason I always wore my hard pass was because I was in charge partly of White House security.
“Come for the game, stay because you are imprisoned for having Bluesky on your phone. Hard pass.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“It's so frustrating. There's a business with "patriot" in the name I've seen ads for online several times. Every time I think "yeah, we know what a lot of people in this country think 'patriot' means. Hard pass".”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Imagine asking Washington for permission to read a book. Hard pass. Sign the petition against the Federal Book Ban Bill. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social #read #reading #library #libraries action.everylibrary.org/hr_7661”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
(US, government) An enduring (nontemporary) clearance to enter the West Wing of the White House, signified by a laminated card.
Did you, in fact, issue a hard pass to Mr. Shapiro? The Witness. I don't recall, but it would be easy to find out.
“A huge catalyst for leaving Hollywood was my insane mother insisting that 18 to 20-yo me needed a bobbed nose, a blonde wig, and a set of 38-Ds. Shudder. That was a hard pass. I have all the original parts.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Hard pass. I guess I won't be too upset about the 50s here today.”
— Bluesky· May 2026“Imagine asking Washington for permission to read a book. Hard pass. Sign the petition against the Federal Book Ban Bill. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social #read #reading #library #libraries action.everylibrary.org/hr_7661”
— Bluesky· May 2026
Comments
(sports) A pass to another player that is delivered with a particularly high level of force.
In renewing passes, the Press Office and the Secret Service check how often the reporters have entered the White House in order to establish the need for such a credential. Now there are approximately 800 hard pass holders.
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Semantically related
- hard out68%
(business jargon) An immovable deadline, at which time someone must leave somewhere, or something must conclude.
- hard-ass67%
(vulgar, slang) Tough, uncompromising and inflexible.
- hospital pass64%
(by extension) a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice.