One of my pet peeves is the use of the word “passed” instead of saying someone died.  They didn’t go by you, they didn’t refuse something, they DIED.

Why people want to use this word???  The first time someone said this to me, I stood there and wondered for a moment what the hell they meant?  Passed what?  GAS???

I am from the South and as I grew up, I did not hear this term.  It’s only until recent times that it has gotten popular to replace the word “died” with “passed.”

Maybe they feel it’s a softer way to break the news, but I just prefer to be more clear.

If they were murdered, killed in an accident, or died in their sleep, they did not pass.  They were killed or they died.

I assume the use of the word might have a religious connotation, such as they passed into the afterlife.  However, everyone doesn’t believe in an afterlife.

So let’s just keepcommunication clear, they DIED!