hospital pass
(literally) A pass (for schools, military, etc.) exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital for treatment.
Definitions
(literally) A pass (for schools, military, etc.) exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital for treatment.
Comments
(by extension) a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice.
Hospital pass means: a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice.. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than risky behaviour. If your teen uses it, context will usually make the intent clear. A short, curious question about where they heard it is usually all that is needed to know whether to follow up.
hospital pass means: a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice.. Register: neutral, standard English. A common learner mistake is using the word in a register it does not fit, or assuming a single global meaning; native speakers immediately notice when slang appears in formal contexts, so always check the surrounding register before producing it yourself.
Comments
(figuratively, sport, British, Australian, Irish) A poorly executed pass to a team-mate, who is likely to lose the ball as a result. (Originally rugby union, where the recipient of a hospital pass is a sitting duck for a hard tackle.).
: His first touch was horrid – a hospital pass to Juliano Belletti – but from that moment on his eye-catching football was wonderful to witness.
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