Passed Away | How to Use this English Idiom Correctly?

Have you ever heard someone use the term ‘passed away’ and wondered what it was they were referring to? We are going to take a look at the meaning of this saying as well as where it came from in the first place. We will also look at how the term can be used in an every day conversation.

Passed Away

“Passed Away” Meaning

When someone has ‘passed away’ it means that they have died. Passed away is a more sympathetic term to refer to the death of someone or an animal.

Origin of this idiom

The term has its roots in the 1500s when the people believed that the passing of the soul from the human body was an actual physical act. The soul passes from the body to heaven.

“Passed Away” Examples

Examples in Statements

Here is a statement being made by a mother to her son.

  • ‘I am sorry to tell you that your uncle passed away during the night.’

This next statement is taken from a news article.

  • ‘Unfortunately the famous singer has now passed away. He will be missed by many people the world over.’

Other examples:

  • The Prince Imperial passed away last night.
  • This old man passed away peacefully this morning.
  • My wife had just passed away, and I didn’t want to be around people.
  • He passed away with a smile on his face.
  • Have you heard? Carl passed away last night.

Conversation Examples

There are many instances where you might hear the term ‘passed away’ during a conversation. Here are some examples to show how it might work.

The first conversation is between a man and a doctor.

  • Person 1: “I am sorry to tell you that your disease is terminal.”
  • Person 2: “Are you saying that I won’t survive?”
  • Person 1: “Yes, sadly you will pass away because of this condition.”

Here is a conversation being held between two friends.

  • Person 1: “I haven’t seen Barry in a long time.”
  • Person 2: “No, I believe he passed away last year,”

Other Ways to Say “Passed Away”

There are many other ways in which you might express the meaning of the phrase ‘passed away.’

Here are some examples of other things you can say.

  • Deceased
  • Departed this earth
  • Passed on

Passed Away | Image

Passed Away

 

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