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[0631] Pass gas

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Euphemisms for flatulence (farting).

Origin

  • Pass gas is a straightforward description of releasing intestinal gas.
  • Break wind is an older, slightly more figurative term comparing the release of gas to a disturbance in the air or 'wind'.
  • Both serve to avoid the more vulgar term fart.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Fart (common, informal/vulgar)
  • Toot (informal, often used with/by children)
  • Cut the cheese (slang, humorous)
  • Let one rip (slang, implies loudness/force)
  • Float an air biscuit (slang, humorous)
  • Flatulence (medical/formal term)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Fart
  • Toot
  • Cut the cheese
  • Let one rip / Rip one
  • Step on a duck (humorous sound association)
  • Air biscuit / Float an air biscuit
  • Trouser cough (UK humorous)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Fart loudly
  • Shart (implies defecation occurred simultaneously very vulgar)

Milder/Euphemistic:

  • Have gas / Be gassy
  • Flatulence (clinical/formal)
  • Have a touch of wind (UK)

Situational Appropriateness

  • Generally informal. While more polite than fart, the topic itself is usually avoided in polite or formal company.
  • Pass gas might be used in a clinical/medical context.
  • Appropriateness depends heavily on the relationship between speakers and the setting.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • The meaning is usually clear, but non-native speakers might underestimate the social awkwardness surrounding the topic in some cultures.

Examples

  • Excuse me, I accidentally passed gas.
  • I think the dog broke wind – it smells awful in here!
  • He tried to pass gas quietly during the meeting.

Dialogue

Person A: (Quietly) Oops, excuse me. I think I just passed gas.

Person B: (Trying to be polite) Oh, no worries. (Subtly waves hand)

Child: Daddy broke wind! It stinks!

Parent: Billy! Don't be rude. Daddy, say excuse me.

Social Media Examples

  • Rare due to the nature of the topic, but might appear humorously in parenting or pet owner contexts.
  • Tweet: That awkward moment when you try to pass gas silently in yoga class... and fail. #embarrassing #yoga
  • Forum post: My dog keeps breaking wind, and it's clearing the room! Any diet tips? #doghealth #smellydog

Response Patterns

  • Often ignored out of politeness.
  • A quiet Excuse you or Pardon me.
  • Sometimes slight, awkward laughter or comments about the smell, depending on the relationship and setting.
  • In very informal settings among friends, humorous exaggeration.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • The person who passed gas usually says Excuse me or Pardon me.
  • Others typically try to ignore it or move the conversation along.
  • Opening a window if the smell is noticeable.

Conversation Starter

  • No. Definitely not. Used only when necessary to acknowledge the act, often apologetically.

Intonation

  • Usually spoken quietly, often apologetically or with slight embarrassment.
  • Stress might fall slightly on pass or break. Excuse me, I need to pass gas.

Generation Differences

  • Understood and used across generations as euphemisms, though directness or slang might be more common among younger people in very informal settings.

Regional Variations

  • Widely understood in major English-speaking regions.
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