Are you attending a funeral? Instead of saying the person died, you could give it a soft edge by saying they ‘passed away.’ This post unpacks the meaning and soring of this expression.
Meaning
The expression ‘pass away’ is a euphemism for someone dying. It’s a polite way of referring to the deceased when you’re at a funeral or wake.
Typically, the family and friends of the deceased individual will cringe if they hear you saying their loved one ‘died.’ Saying ‘pass away’ softens the corners of an uncomfortable situation.
Example Usage
“Did you hear about John? He passed away over the weekend from a massive heart attack. The doctor says a combination of bad diet, alcoholism, and smoking brought him to his end.”
“Eventually, we all pass away. No one lives forever, and you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re immortal. Pay attention to life; it goes by real fast.”
“Our friend, Tyler, passed away on Thursday. He was a great guy, and the doctors are still going through the autopsy to determine the cause of death.”
“It would be a shame to see you pass away from a fentanyl overdose. What a waste of life that would turn out to be.”
Origin
The expression 'pass away' originates from 15th century England. During this era, people were highly religious, believing every person has a soul that survives their death, leading them to the afterlife.
People in the 1600s would use the saying to refer to the passing of a person's soul, leaving the body for the heavenly realm. After a person died, communities would hold a 'wake' for the deceased. During the wake, people would visit with the deceased and say kind words about their impact on their life.
The wake attendees believed the person's soul would hear the people's words at the wake. After the priests finished giving the 'Last Rites' to the deceased after the wake, the soul would leave the body for the afterlife and 'pass away.'
The first appearance of the saying is in 'The Lay Folks Mass Book,' published sometime in the 1400s. The book presents the phrase in archaic English, reading as follows.
"Graunt... rest & pese... to cristen soules passed away."
(Grant rest and peace to Christian souls who passed away.)
Phrases Similar to Pass Away
- Die.
- Perish.
- Kick the bucket.
Phrases Opposite to Pass Away
- Alive and kicking.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Pass away.
- Passed away.
Ways People May Say Pass Away Incorrectly
The phrase has nothing to do with passing people on the road in vehicles or walking. “Pass away’ doesn’t refer to the act of passing something away from you. Using the phrase for any other reason except to refer to someone dying is incorrect.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Pass Away
You can use the phrase ‘pass away’ when referring to someone dying. Typically, you’ll use this euphemism when referring to someone in your family or close to you dying. The person could pass away from natural causes, disease, or accidents. It can also refer to someone being murdered.
Usually, you’ll use ‘pass away’ as a sign of respect to the person that perished and to the person you’re talking to. In many cases, you’ll be talking to a family member or friend, and using ‘pass away’ softens the blow of losing someone, while saying they died may seem insensitive and disrespectful to the family and the deceased.