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
… the residents of Gunbarrel speak with a unified and unwavering voice: "No thank you, Mr. Mayor! Hard pass."R. M. O'Dea
That 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
Take a hard pass on the house cocktails, and stick with beer or wine. Or skip the booze altogether …Greg Cox

Examples of hard pass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web 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 The new rules also set criteria for obtaining a hard pass — a set of standards that effectively establishes who, according to the White House, qualifies as a journalist worthy of routine access. Paul Farhi, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 That was after DeBrusk was a victim of friendly fire, taking a hard pass from Hall off the head late in the first. Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Apr. 2023 His wife took a hard pass on joining him. Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Mar. 2023 Some internet threads have also inquired about rinsing raw ground beef, and that’s a hard pass, too. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Feb. 2023 See More

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.

Word History

First Known Use

2014, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard pass was in 2014

Dictionary Entries Near hard pass

Cite this Entry

“Hard pass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard%20pass. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

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