make a pass

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English

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Verb

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make a pass (third-person singular simple present makes a pass, present participle making a pass, simple past and past participle made a pass) [with at]

  1. 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

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The term is most frequently used for unwanted sexual advances.

Translations

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See also

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