hard pass

noun

: a firm refusal or rejection of something (such as an offer)

Then poor Gendry asks Arya to be his lady, but Arya gives him a hard pass.

—Rob Bricken

… the residents of Gunbarrel speak with a unified and unwavering voice: "No thank you, Mr. Mayor! Hard pass."

—R. M. O'Dea

That disclaimer was disregarded by some who found Turner's suggestion too extreme. A home run derby in a regular season game? Is this hockey and its penalty shootouts? Hard pass.

—Jorge Castillo

Take a hard pass on the house cocktails, and stick with beer or wine. Or skip the booze altogether …

—Greg Cox

Examples of hard pass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But while there are a rainbow of hues designers would happily coat a room in, some shades a hard pass for the pros. —Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 2 Nov. 2024

The time commitment, the awkward small talk during exercises…a hard pass, and last resort, just like surgery. —Kelli Acciardo, Allure, 20 Sep. 2024

So, leaving my children in the kids’ club with strangers was initially a hard pass for me. —Essence, 29 July 2024

Of course, most makeup products are subjective, and one person’s hard pass could be another’s treasure. —Jacqueline Kilikita, refinery29.com, 15 Jan. 2024

The Hard Pass: A hard pass redirects a suitor’s love and turns it into hate. —Evan Waite, The New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2024

As for the parties that don’t have adequate seating or ideal circumstances, food stations should be a hard pass. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024

However, having his music on in the bedroom is a hard pass for Ginuwine. —Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 30 Jan. 2024

For every baked feta pasta (swoon) there are three pasta chips (hard pass). —Emily Heil, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2014, in the meaning defined above