pass the time together

Meaning

This phrase means to spend time doing activities with another person, often to prevent boredom or to make a waiting period feel shorter. It emphasizes the shared activity and companionship rather than a highly productive or serious goal. It is common among friends, family members, or couples.

Examples

• While waiting for the train, we played cards to pass the time together.

  While waiting for the train, we played cards to pass the time together.

• They love to pass the time together by walking along the beach every evening.

  They love to pass the time together by walking along the beach every evening.

• When the power went out, we told ghost stories to pass the time together.

  When the power went out, we told ghost stories to pass the time together.

• My grandfather and I used to pass the time together by working on old puzzles.

  My grandfather and I used to pass the time together by working on old puzzles.

• We don't need to do anything fancy; just chatting is a great way to pass the time together.

  We don't need to do anything fancy; just chatting is a great way to pass the time together.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We passed the time together with playing video games.

  ✓ We passed the time together by playing video games.

  Use the preposition 'by' (followed by a gerund) to show the method or activity used to pass the time.

• ✗ We spent the time together at the station waiting for the bus.

  ✓ We passed the time together at the station waiting for the bus.

  While 'spent the time' is grammatically correct, 'passed the time' specifically implies making a period of waiting or potential boredom go by faster.

Related Expressions

Practice

• During the long flight, we played mobile games to ___.

  💡 Make the hours go by faster while waiting.

  Show answer

  pass the time together

• They used to ___ by painting and listening to old records.

  💡 Spend casual hours in each other's company.

  Show answer

  pass the time together