it is a euphemism

Well it's a piss poor one.

And it can fook off back to America, which is probably where it came from.

It's English- from the 17th century.

I prefer "cactus".

I don't disagree, Prodgo, that it is a bit clunking.

To me it sounds exactly like saying "died" but in an annoyingly oblique manner. But I guess some people find it less uncomfortable. 

Orwell22 Jan 22 07:11

It's English- from the 17th century.

If that's so it crept out of fashion until the early 21st Century and it's about time it crept back out again', Namby Pamby imposter it is.

It's very non-u. 

It is said usually to help the grieving deal with the reality of their loss. i don’t know how helpful it is. Death and its reality isn’t as open as it used to be. It’s mostly v medicalised. People rarely see a dead body for v long, it’s all quite shrouded. Recommend Douglas Davis’ book: Death, Ritual & Belief if you want to dig in further 

Thank you Stardust, that sounds interesting. I anticipate it wont be long before that makes relevant reading for me, as opposed to about me.

I think it's time I went and did some work.

They say it out of respect you vulgarian.

It's one of those euphemisms I can't stand. Like saying gender (and this isn't a trans thing - although it's part of how we've ended up here) when you mean sex, or "battling cancer". 

Mmm, but died is just so final

Or "experimenting with drugs". Oh yeah? Did u put ur lab coat on and get ur results peer-reviewed? Nah. Dubious pre-print at best. 

Wot Opty sed.

Get a grip FFS

It's an abbreviation of "passed over" 

To the other side. 

I like it tbf. 

VOM

English is a colourful language. Why not use one of the terms from one of the best comedy sketches of all time (although “passed on” does figure I admit). 
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZw35VUBdzo

You only live twice. Once when you are born and once when you are staring death in the face. 

Japanese proverb. 

Vax you're confusing the actions of the Tory MP who did that this week with the thread’s deeper meaning. 
and I hold my head in shame viz effect/affect

One takeaway from the last 2 years is

We have a seriously bad death denying culture in this country 

Even on graves you see this "passed" and "fell asleep" everywhere.

Mine will say

Passed exams

Fell asleep every night except that time he did the herbal highs 

Died DDMMYYYY

It’s makes me want to ask what the person has passed.  A bus?

My wife died [effects of progressive MS] suddenly in 2020, and I frequently use "passed", as it is less final and stark as "died", which I also use when it feels more appropriate.

Fair comment Pillsbury but that is entirely your prerogative as the bereaved. And lest you assume an absence of empathy my condolences to you. I’m sure it’s still very raw. 

It’s when I hear it in a news clip or being used by a celebrity when asked to comment on the death of another. 

Eg ‘He passed peacefully in his sleep at 99’. He died is not harsh or unfeeling in that case. It’s just the fact of the matter as opposed to matter of fact. 

I like the look of horror if you announce that a relative has carked it or similar.

And  "I lost my wife"..

Eh? 

You mean your wife died.

Some other sayings which drive me mad 

" I have blood pressure" 

" of a morning"

" to that end"

^ The guy’s wife died and you are going to take issue with how he expresses the fact before even offering your sympathies? ^

Pillsbury - my sincere condolences

I totally agree with the OP... ...it's another form of virtue signalling, where saying 'passed' somehow shows empathy.

The person is dead... ...they have died, not passed or departed.

It's a bit like using 'jab' in lieu of injection. None of us got a covid jab because that would be a poke or prod... ...we all had an injection.

An alternative to 'She passed' is 'She failed'.  How does that sound?

Slightly more seriously, there is a sense in which death denotes finality the end of any existence, whereas passed can be transition to a different state where memories of you live on, as does the impact that your life has had on others, directly or indirectly.

Less seriously although true, I bring you a gem from the Irish Times this morning:

Gardaí are investigating the death of a man in Carlow town, whose body was brought into a post office by two others in what appeared to be an attempt to claim the deceased’s pension. 

The bizarre series of events began when a man entered the post office at Hosey’s shop on Staplestown Road at about 11.30 am on Friday. 

The man wanted to collect a pension payment on behalf of an older man but was informed by a staff member that the pensioner would have to be present if a payment was to be made.

The man left the post office and returned a short time later with two other men, one of whom was in his 60s. The two younger men are understood to have sought a pension payment for the third man, who it appeared was being propped up. 

A woman who had become suspicious of the men’s movements alerted a post office staff member and no cash was handed over. 

Fled

The body of the older man, who was dead, was left at the scene when the two younger men fled after suspicions were raised. Gardaí and emergency services were notified and the man was declared dead some time later. 

An ambulance crew and several gardaí attended at the scene. It is understood there were CCTV cameras operating in the post office at the time. 

The deceased man, named locally as Peadar Doyle, is believed to have been in his late 60s and a resident of Pollerton Road, close to the post office. 

A house in Pollerton Road has been sealed off by gardaí as a crime scene. 

Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Browne said the incident was “shocking and very upsetting for everyone locally”. It was especially distressing for the staff at the post office who witnessed what happened, he said.

Thank you kindly for the condolences.

Pillser, sorry for your loss. 

I've noticed that passed is being used more. I think it is just a gentler and easier way to deal with the subject matter. If it enables people to have a discussion about deceased friends and relatives, why knock it.

I noticed it being used a lot more when I moved to Australia. I don't like it. Being prone to take things at face value I have to manually override my initial understanding which is of someone literally going past something. 

Peat I think there’s a clear distinction to be drawn between the bereaved and the commentators on a death, which my OP failed to touch upon. 
it doesn’t lie in my mouth to pass comment on how someone who has lost someone close chooses to word their grief even if I would do so differently. 

What I deplore is the creep of tip toe-ing by commentators who adopt the same tone even though they have no grief. It strikes me as more disrespectful. 
 

Wot sails said it is an incomplete phrase or sentence. Passed what?

Pillsbury - you say what the heck you like, and I am so sorry to hear about your poor wife.