Pass the time of day Meaning in English
expression
PASS thuh TIME uhv DAY
PAHSS thuh TIME ov DAY
Definition
To greet someone and have a short, casual conversation, usually when you meet by chance.
Usage & Nuances
This expression is informal and typically British. It implies brief, friendly conversation without deep discussion. Common in rural or close-knit communities. Do not confuse with 'pass the time' (to spend time). Rare in American English.
Spanish: saludar y charlar un rato - conversar brevementePortuguese (BR): cumprimentar e conversar um poucoPortuguese (PT): cumprimentar e conversar um poucoChinese (Simplified): 打招呼聊几句Chinese (Traditional): 打招呼聊幾句Hindi: थोड़ी बातचीत करनाArabic: تبادل التحية وحديث قصيرBengali: সামান্য কথা বলা - কুশল বিনিময় করাRussian: перекинуться парой слов - поздороваться и перекинуться словамиJapanese: 軽く挨拶する - 軽く世間話をするVietnamese: chào hỏi xã giao - trò chuyện ngắn gọnKorean: 간단히 인사하다 - 가볍게 얘기 나누다Turkish: hal hatır sormak - kısa sohbet etmekUrdu: ہلکی پھلکی بات چیت کرنا - رسمی سلام دعا کرناIndonesian: berbasa-basi - menyapa singkat
Example Sentences
I saw my neighbor and passed the time of day with him.
basic
She likes to pass the time of day with people at the bus stop.
basic
We passed the time of day before starting work.
basic
We just passed the time of day and moved on—nothing serious.
natural
It’s nice to pass the time of day with shopkeepers in the morning.
natural
People in small towns often pass the time of day on the street.
natural