hard pass
noun
: a firm refusal or rejection of something (such as an offer)
Then poor Gendry asks Arya to be his lady, but Arya gives him a hard pass.—
Rob Bricken
Rob Bricken… the residents of Gunbarrel speak with a unified and unwavering voice: "No thank you, Mr. Mayor! Hard pass."—R. M. O'Dea
R. M. O'DeaThat disclaimer was disregarded by some who found Turner's suggestion too extreme. A home run derby in a regular season game? Is this hockey and its penalty shootouts? Hard pass.—Jorge Castillo
Jorge CastilloTake a hard pass on the house cocktails, and stick with beer or wine. Or skip the booze altogether …—Greg Cox
Greg CoxExamples of hard pass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Hard Pass: A hard pass redirects a suitor’s love and turns it into hate.
—Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2024
As for the parties that don’t have adequate seating or ideal circumstances, food stations should be a hard pass.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
However, having his music on in the bedroom is a hard pass for Ginuwine.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024
For every baked feta pasta (swoon) there are three pasta chips (hard pass).
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024
Some claim that the treatment eases inflammation, but If that’s a hard pass, doctor approved cosmetic procedures will be offered here too, as of next year.
—Carole Sovocool, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2023
Claims of Curing Disease If the product claims to cure disease, that's a hard pass.
—Kathleen Felton, Health, 17 Dec. 2023
Slipping on snow or ice is a hard pass, but the Ugg Classic Suede Slippers?
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
That development prompts a desperate attempt to round up the rest of the Justice League to halt Zod, starting with a very ornery Batman, who takes a hard pass on stepping back into the fray.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 June 2023
Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2024
As for the parties that don’t have adequate seating or ideal circumstances, food stations should be a hard pass.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024
However, having his music on in the bedroom is a hard pass for Ginuwine.
—Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024
For every baked feta pasta (swoon) there are three pasta chips (hard pass).
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024
Some claim that the treatment eases inflammation, but If that’s a hard pass, doctor approved cosmetic procedures will be offered here too, as of next year.
—Carole Sovocool, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2023
Claims of Curing Disease If the product claims to cure disease, that's a hard pass.
—Kathleen Felton, Health, 17 Dec. 2023
Slipping on snow or ice is a hard pass, but the Ugg Classic Suede Slippers?
—Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2023
That development prompts a desperate attempt to round up the rest of the Justice League to halt Zod, starting with a very ornery Batman, who takes a hard pass on stepping back into the fray.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hard pass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Hard pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20pass. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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