ça passe

Le gâteau était un peu sec, mais ça passe.
The cake was a bit dry, yet it does the job.
Je n’ai pas trouvé la sauce très épicée, mais ça passe.
I didn't find the sauce very spicy, but it is acceptable.
Le costume n’est pas parfait, mais ça passe pour la soirée.
The suit isn’t perfect, but it will do for the evening.
Ce film? Ça passe.
That is fine.
Si tu arrives en retard, ça passe.
If you arrive late, it won't be a problem.

Similar words

passable

adéquat

assez bien

tolérable

convenable

correct

suffisant

acceptable

Use context to choose the sense and keep the tone informal

Dropping the phrase when something is actually perfect, e.g., saying ça passe for a superb dish

From French 'ça' (that) + the present tense of 'passer' meaning 'to pass', used colloquially to mean 'it passes'

What does ça passe mean in English?

ça passe means “that’s okay” or “it will do”.

When can I use ça passe?

Use it in informal contexts to say something is acceptable, sufficient, or not a problem.

Is ça passe appropriate in formal writing?

It is informal, so it is better to avoid it in formal texts.

How does ça passe differ from ça suffit?

ça passe implies something is okay enough, while ça suffit means it is sufficient, often more definitive.

Can ça passe be used for negative situations?

It can downplay a problem, but for truly unacceptable situations another expression is needed.

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