ça passe

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that's okay, it will do, acceptable
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/sa pas/
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A casual expression indicating that something is acceptable or sufficient, though not ideal
Practice using ça passe in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Si tu arrives en retard, ça passe.
    If you arrive late, it won't be a problem.
  • Je ne suis pas sûr du résultat, mais ça passe.
    I'm not sure about the result, but it will do.
  • Ce film? Ça passe.
    That is fine.
  • 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 gâteau était un peu sec, mais ça passe.
    The cake was a bit dry, yet it does the job.

Similar words

convenable
adéquat
passable
suffisant
acceptable
assez bien
tolérable
correct

Meanings

Acceptable, good enough

everyday
neutral
To be sufficient or acceptable even if not perfect

Examples

  • Ce film? Ça passe.
    That is fine.
  • 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 gâteau était un peu sec, mais ça passe.
    The cake was a bit dry, yet it does the job.
  • Si tu arrives en retard, ça passe.
    If you arrive late, it won't be a problem.
  • Je ne suis pas sûr du résultat, mais ça passe.
    I'm not sure about the result, but it will do.
  • Le costume n’est pas parfait, mais ça passe pour la soirée.
    The suit isn’t perfect, but it will do for the evening.

Similar words

acceptable
suffisant
adéquat
passable
correct
convenable
tolérable
assez bien

Etymology

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

FAQ

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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