ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sell the pass

idiom
Meaning

To betray one's comrades or countrymen; to betray a cause.


Examples
SIMPLE

He sold the pass when he told the boss our secret plan.

CONTEXTUAL

The team felt betrayed when their captain sold the pass and joined the rival club mid-season.

COMPLEX

By leaking the internal strategy to the opposition, the advisor effectively sold the pass on the entire movement he had helped build.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    come to pass

    To happen; to occur.

  2. 02

    hard pass

    An unequivocal rejection with no possibility of a later change of mind.

  3. 03

    I have a bridge to sell you

    An indirect way of expressing that the addressee is gullible.

  4. 04

    let this cup pass from me

    An appeal to God or another authority to take away one's present or future suffering.

  5. 05

    parade passed someone by

    Someone missed out on the joys of life, an opportunity, or popular movement

  6. 06

    pass away

    To die.

  7. 07

    pass muster

    To meet or exceed a particular standard.

  8. 08

    pass on

    To die.

Last updated April 17, 2026