Zip past

Meaning

The idiom "zip past" means to pass by someone or something quickly and without stopping, usually with a sense of disregard or indifference. The figurative meaning of the idiom is to act hastily or impulsively without considering the consequences, often leading to negative outcomes.

Usage

• She zipped past me on the highway without even a second thought, leaving me in her dust.
• He zipped past my questions without answering them, clearly not interested in engaging with me.
• We zipped past the city center and out into the countryside, eager to escape the chaos of the city.
• The storm zipped past us, but we were still left without power for hours.
• She zipped past her problems and kept moving forward, refusing to acknowledge them.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "zip past" is not entirely clear, but it may be related to the idea of quickly passing by or ignoring something. The term "zip" has been used since at least the 19th century, often in reference to a fast-moving object like a zipper or a speeding vehicle. Over time, the idiom has come to take on a more figurative meaning, reflecting the idea of quickly and easily ignoring or dismissing something.

Synonyms in English

• "Rush past" - to pass by someone or something very quickly without stopping.
• "Whiz past" - to move past someone or something very quickly with speed.
• "Sail past" - to move past someone or something easily and without any difficulties.

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "Faire rapidement route" - To travel quickly or rush by.
• Spanish: "Cruzar rápidamente" - To cross quickly.
• Italian: "Passare velocemente" - To pass by quickly.
• German: "Schnell vorbeigetreten" - To move past quickly.
• Dutch: "Vooral snel ontsnappen" - To escape quickly and urgently.

Similar Idioms

• forty winks

• bide time

• blast from the past