In Passing for Dummies

In passing is an expression that we often use in our daily conversations, but have you ever wondered what it actually means? Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

Imagine you are walking down the street and you see someone you know. You wave and say a quick "hi" as you continue on your way. That interaction, my dear student, is an example of passing. You didn't stop to have a long conversation, you didn't linger and spend a lot of time, you simply acknowledged the person and carried on with your day. That's what "in passing" is all about.

Now, let's delve a little deeper into the meaning of "in passing." It can also refer to something that is mentioned briefly or briefly discussed while doing something else. Picture this: You're playing a game with your friends and one of them casually mentions a book they recently read. They didn't go into great detail or start a whole conversation about the book, they just mentioned it quickly and moved on. That's another example of something being said "in passing."

But why do we use this expression? Why don't we just say "casually" or "briefly"? Well, my student, language is a fascinating thing. We use different expressions to add color and variety to what we say. It's like adding some extra seasoning to your favorite dish to make it even more flavorful.

Think of it this way: if language were a plain sandwich, expressions like "in passing" would be the delicious spread that adds a little something extra to make it interesting and special. It helps us paint a clearer picture of what we mean and adds a touch of personality to our conversations.

So, the next time you hear someone say something "in passing," remember that it means they are mentioning something quickly or briefly without going into too much detail. It’s like a friendly wave to someone you know while walking by, or a sprinkling of seasoning on your language sandwich. And just like that, you've cracked the code of this common expression!