hard pass
An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“They invited me to the party, but it is a hard pass.”
“When my friend suggested we go skydiving this weekend, I gave him a hard pass.”
“Despite the recruiter's persistent efforts to schedule an interview, she issued a hard pass, having already accepted a position at a competing firm.”
- 01
bone hard
As hard as a bone, rock hard.
- 02
cold hard cash
Money, regarded as an incentive that can override any doubts or ethical concerns.
- 03
come to pass
To happen; to occur.
- 04
die hard
Of a living being, to die only after a desperate struggle for life.
- 05
drive a hard bargain
To negotiate forcefully.
- 06
give someone a hard time
To cause difficulty or make trouble for someone.
- 07
go hard with someone
To lead to someone suffering; to place someone in difficulty or danger.
- 08
hard as nails
Very unsympathetic; callous
Last updated August 10, 2026