Jiaying This is The English We Speak with me, Jiaying…
Rob …and me, Rob. In English we have many ways of saying we refuse to do something. The expression ‘hard pass’ means we really don’t want to do it!
Jiaying** ‘Hard pass’**. Sometimes we might ‘pass’ on doing something – meaning we politely say ’no’ - but a ‘hard pass’ is stronger.
Rob It certainly is. It’s a firm rejection and means you’re not going to change your mind. You are certain!
Jiaying Like going for a lovely long walk in the rain. Would you do that?
Rob I’d give that a hard pass. I’d rather go to the cinema on a rainy day – would you like to come with me?
Jiaying Err, I think I’ll give that a hard pass, thanks! I hate going to the cinema during the day – it’s such a waste of daylight time! But how about some examples instead?
Rob Sure – there’s no hard pass on learning this expression!
Examples I asked her out for dinner last night but she gave me a hard pass.
Go for a cold water swim? I think I’ll give that a hard pass!
I’m giving our holiday plans a hard pass – I can’t afford it.
Jiaying In this episode of The English We Speak, we’re talking about the expression ‘hard pass’. We can say it when we are certain we don’t want to do something and we’re not going to change our mind.
Rob This noun phrase is slang. Formally, we would just say ’no thank you’ but with friends we can reject their ideas by giving it a ‘hard pass’. The verb we use with it is ‘give’. Give something a hard pass.
And Jiaying, you’ve given going to the cinema with me a hard pass, are you sure I can’t change your mind? How about if I buy the popcorn?
Jiaying No, Rob. I’m certain. I’m going for a nice walk in the sunshine.
Rob Oh, OK. That’s a hard pass from you. Bye.
Jiaying Bye.