Pass away

Meaning

The idiom "pass away" is used to describe the act of dying, as well as the state of being deceased or departed from this world. It's a common way of expressing condolences and sympathy to someone who has lost a loved one.

Usage

• I am so sorry to hear that your grandmother passed away last week.
• We will hold a memorial service for our colleague who passed away suddenly.
• The community is mourning the loss of its beloved mayor, who passed away after a long illness.
• My grandmother passed away peacefully in her sleep last night.
• I can't believe my father passed away so young; it's been a tough week for our family.

Roots and History

The phrase "pass away" is believed to have originated from the old English term "pæstan," which meant "to go beyond." Over time, it evolved to mean "to pass away" or "to die." This idiom has remained relatively consistent in meaning over the centuries. However, it's worth noting that there are cultural and regional variations in how people express similar ideas. In some cultures, for example, the phrase "going to a better place" is more commonly used.

Synonyms in English

• die
• pass on
• depart
• rest
• sleep

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: morir, fallecer, acabar la vida
• French: mourir, décéder, mettre fin à la vie
• German: sterben, verenden, beenden die Lebenszeit
• Italian: morire, cadere in morte, terminare la vita
• Portuguese: morrer, falecer, encerrar a vida

Similar Idioms

• dead as a doornail

• penny for your thoughts

• practice makes perfect