make a pass at

idiom
UK: /meɪk ə pɑːs æt/
US: /meɪk ə pæs æt/

  1. To try to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone.

    1. He tried to make a pass at her, but she refused him.
    2. I think my boss might have been trying to make a pass at me during the business dinner.

Synonyms

come on to chat up
make a pass at phrasal-verb

  1. To make a sexual advance towards someone.

    1. Did he really make a pass at you last night at the bar?
    2. She claimed that the celebrity tried to make a pass at her after the concert backstage.
make a pass at verb

  1. To make an attempt to flirt with someone.

    1. He's always trying to make a pass at someone new at parties.
    2. I saw him make a pass at her, but she seemed uninterested in his flirtations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "make a pass at" is /meɪk ə pɑːs æt/ in British English and /meɪk ə pæs æt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "make a pass at": come on to, chat up.

Example usage of "make a pass at": "He tried to make a pass at her, but she refused him.". More examples on the page.