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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007Pass
IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. IBM owns a lot of the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided to pass on PCs. What would be a definition of 'pass' there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in other contexts? John Freck > IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. IBM owns a lot of > the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided to pass on PCs. What would be a > definition of 'pass' there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in > other contexts? This term reminds me of doing a "pass" in a card game when it is your turn to bid. A pass would be a signal to your partner that you have no good cards to play. You cannot name a suit. You have more options if you "pass", and don't commit yourself immediately in a situation. Of course, you may miss the best chance. Taking a pass on an opportunity in business means letting this particular opportunity go by without taking advantage of the offer. Oh, I think I have seen "pass" used in TV game shows, meaning pretty much the same thing. The contestant passes in a situation in which he doesn't think he can do well (or his next question will provide higher rewards), and an opponent may do even worse, so the contestant may be setting a trap for the opponent. IBM's passing in the PC business means IBM doesn't want to get back into it. Remember, PC used to mean "IBM clone", in competition with Apple. > IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. IBM owns a lot of > the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided to pass on PCs. What would be a > definition of 'pass' there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in > other contexts? I pass.  SignatureSkitt (in Hayward, California) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/ >> IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. >> IBM owns a lot of the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided >> to pass on PCs. What would be a definition of 'pass' >> there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in >> other contexts? > I pass. > Skitt (in Hayward, California) > http://www.geocities.com/opus731/ Skitt, come on! I know you have interesting thoughts. You have worthwhile posts, don't just sitout. This thread will miss you, if you keep to your pass. John Freck > >> IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. > >> IBM owns a lot of the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > John Freck Maybe he knew who had asked the question. >>>> IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. >>>> IBM owns a lot of the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Maybe he knew who had asked the question. Not only that -- terse as it was, it was a clue to the meaning. Was it too obscure? SignatureSkitt (in Hayward, California) http://www.geocities.com/opus731/ [Teranews is blocking me from posting again, goddammit!] > Robert Lieblich wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > Not only that -- terse as it was, it was a clue to the meaning. > Was it too obscure? Not at all. But because it was all too approriate, it probably airbussed past His Honor. -- Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor Native speaker of American English; posting from Taiwan. "It has come to my attention that my opinions are not universally shared." Scott Adams, The Dilbert Blog, 23 Jan 2007; http:// dilbertblog.typepad.com/ > IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. IBM owns a lot of > the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided to pass on PCs. What would be a > definition of 'pass' there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in > other contexts? > > John Freck Not enter the market. Pass as in let what ever pass you by with no action on your part. > IBM awhile ago took a pass on PCs by selling out. IBM owns a lot of > the Chinese buyer, but IBM decided to pass on PCs. What would be a > definition of 'pass' there with IBM? How how do we use 'pass' in > other contexts? A reference to games where a legal move is not to participate in that particular round, this being referred to as "to pass" or "a pass". I think it originated in card games, but is well known in Britain through a television quiz programme (AmE and increasingly BrE "show") where a legal response to a question was "pass" which meant you declined to answer that question and scored no points for it, but answering that way meant there was more time for other questions to be asked. Matthew Huntbach |
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