brush pass

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablespecialist

   A secret handover of an item between two people who pass close to each other in public without stopping or speaking.

   Grammar: Has a plural: brush passes. Often used with make or carry out.

   Patterns

   • make a brush pass
   • a brush pass between someone and someone

   The agent made a brush pass on the crowded platform and walked on.

   In the film, a brush pass in a busy market delivered the package.

   Training for a brush pass means practicing timing and calm.

2. 2nouncountablerare

   A brief passing contact between two people or vehicles moving in opposite directions.

   Grammar: Informal and rare; used in descriptions of crowded spaces.

   Patterns

   • a brush pass with someone

   The two cyclists had a brush pass on the narrow path.

   In the crowded corridor, there was a brush pass between strangers.

   A quick brush pass at the door left them both startled.

Word forms

Common combinations

make a brush pass

The spy made a brush pass outside the station.

carry out a brush pass

They carried out a brush pass without exchanging a word.

a risky brush pass

A brush pass in daylight is risky.

a brush pass in a crowd

A brush pass in a crowd is easy to miss.

Synonyms and how they differ

dead drop

A dead drop leaves an item in a hidden place for later pickup, so the two people never meet.

handoff

Handoff is a general word for passing something to another person and is not secret.

exchange

Exchange is a plain word and does not suggest hidden or brief movement.

drop

Drop on its own is unclear and usually means leaving something.

Word family

brush verb

to touch lightly in passing

pass noun

a movement of giving something across

pass verb

to hand something to someone

brush-off noun

a curt refusal or dismissal

Commonly confused: brush pass or brush-off?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “brush pass”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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