passer-by
7
3.6
- noun
- /ˈpæsər baɪ/
- UK
:
transeúnte
- The four of us are just passers-by
This is an accepted form of courting and only in respectable middle class areas are passers by likely to call the police.
- This is an accepted form of courting and only in respectable middle class areas are passers by likely to call the police.
Examples
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Because the event took place outside, it attracted a bunch of passers-by, and the party grew.
Blog text (24) -
I reckon we were the most normal passers-by ever just now.
-
Just another passer-by going by.
-
- Just a passer-by, as you might say.
-
I felt how far removed we were from these passers-by, from this street, this city, this sea.
Fiction book (1994) -
I looked at her again and saw the passers-by staring at her.
Fiction book (1994) -
I waited until the passers-by outside had all passed by.
Fiction book (1999) -
My dog will bark at any passers-by
-
The staff was friendly, and tables are placed so you can see passers-by shopping in the mall.
Blog text (32) -
While walking through the park, she greeted the passers-by with a friendly smile.
Synonyms
100
1.6
A person who is walking near a road or street
12
3.3
A person who is walking past a place by chance
7
4.9
A person who walks past a place, often by chance
A person who walks past a place
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word passer-by is very literal. The first part passer comes from the simple word pass ('to go past') and the second part by means 'past' or 'near', so a passer-by is someone who is going past a place, often by chance.