Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - pass on

1. If you pass something on to someone, you give it to them so that they have it instead of you. The Queen is passing the money on to a selection of her favourite charities... There is a risk of passing the virus on... The late Earl passed on much of his fortune to his daughter... Tenants remain liable if they pass on their lease. PHRASAL VERB: V n P to n, V n P, V P n (not pron) to n, V P n (not pron) 2. If you pass on costs or savings to someone else, you make them pay for your costs or allow them to benefit from your savings. They pass on their cost of borrowing and add to it their profit margin... I found we could make some saving and it is right to pass the savings on to the customer. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V n P to n, also V n P, V P n (not pron) to n 3. You can say that someone passed on to mean that they died, if you want to avoid using the word ‘die’ because you think it might upset or offend people. He passed on at the age of 72. = pass away PHRASAL VERB: V P 4. see also pass 7