make a pass
English edit
Verb edit
make a pass (third-person singular simple present makes a pass, present participle making a pass, simple past and past participle made a pass) [+ at (object)]
- To unambiguously indicate interest in sexual activity to someone the speaker has not previously been sexually involved with.
- He clumsily made a pass at the prom queen, and she responded with a scowl.
- 1926, Dorothy Parker, “News Item”, in Enough Rope, page 85:
- Men seldom make passes / At girls who wear glasses.
- 1985, Joel Schumacher, Carl Kurlander, St. Elmo's Fire (motion picture), spoken by Julianna "Jules" Van Patten (Demi Moore):
- You know, all those nights we stayed up talking…How come you never made a pass at me?
Usage notes edit
The term is most frequently used for unwanted sexual advances.
Translations edit
to unambiguously indicate interest in sexual activity to someone the speaker has not previously been sexually involved with