# pass down

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pass-down
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to give something to a younger person in your family, like a skill, a story, or an object.

For teachers: to transmit knowledge, traditions, or possessions from one generation to the next. Transitive; often implies a legacy or inheritance.

## Examples

- My grandmother passed down this gold ring to me.
- These traditional recipes have been passed down through our family for over a hundred years.
- The oral traditions of the community were meticulously passed down from the elders to the youth to ensure the culture's survival.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He passed down it to his son." but "He passed it down to his son." — pronoun objects must be placed between the verb and the particle in separable phrasal verbs.

## Usage notes

- usually takes a direct object and is often followed by 'to' or 'through'.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'hand down', which is often used for legal rulings or physical heirlooms, whereas 'pass down' covers abstract traditions too.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.