In 15 Sekunden
- To intentionally omit or ignore a specific fact or detail.
- Common in professional, political, and storytelling contexts for strategic silence.
- Conjugate 'passer' normally while keeping 'sous silence' at the end.
Bedeutung
This phrase actually means to deliberately ignore something or keep it a secret. It's like sweeping a detail under the rug so nobody notices it.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Reporting a project's failure
Le directeur a passé les pertes financières sous silence.
The director ignored the financial losses in his report.
Talking about a friend's awkward date
Elle a passé son retard sous silence pendant tout le dîner.
She didn't mention being late at all during the dinner.
A politician avoiding a scandal
Le ministre préfère passer cette affaire sous silence.
The minister prefers to keep this matter quiet.
Kultureller Hintergrund
In French politics, 'passer sous silence' was a standard practice regarding the private lives of presidents (like Mitterrand's second family) until the early 2000s. In Quebec, the phrase is used identically to France, but in casual conversation, you might hear 'mettre ça de côté' (put that aside) more often. In international diplomacy (often conducted in French), 'passer sous silence' is a tactical tool used to reach agreements on easy topics while ignoring 'frictions'. Classic authors use this to create suspense. By passing a character's motivation under silence, the author forces the reader to guess.
Use it in Essays
In the TCF or DALF exams, using 'passer sous silence' instead of 'ne pas dire' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.
The 'Sous' Rule
Never say 'passer sur silence'. It is the most common error and sounds very non-native.
In 15 Sekunden
- To intentionally omit or ignore a specific fact or detail.
- Common in professional, political, and storytelling contexts for strategic silence.
- Conjugate 'passer' normally while keeping 'sous silence' at the end.
What It Means
Passer sous silence is all about intentional omission. You aren't just forgetting a detail. You are choosing to leave it out. It is the art of the 'unspoken.' Think of it as a strategic hush. You use it when you want to avoid a tricky subject. It is very common in politics or office gossip. It implies a conscious decision to stay quiet.
How To Use It
This phrase works like a standard verb. You can conjugate passer in any tense you need. You usually follow it with the thing you are hiding. For example: Il a passé son erreur sous silence. It sounds smooth and deliberate. It is not about being wrong. It is about being quiet about being wrong. Use it when you see someone dodging a question. It feels very sophisticated in conversation.
When To Use It
Use it during a job interview for your gaps. Use it when telling a story but skipping the embarrassing parts. It fits perfectly in professional reports. It also works when a friend ignores your text. You might say they 'passed your message under silence.' It is great for describing media cover-ups too. It adds a layer of mystery to your French.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for accidental forgetting. If you forgot your keys, you didn't passer sous silence. That would imply you are hiding the keys on purpose. Avoid it in very slangy settings with teenagers. They might just say zapper (to skip). It is too elegant for a shouting match. It requires a bit of poise to pull off correctly.
Cultural Background
French culture values what is left unsaid as much as what is said. This phrase reflects a certain 'pudeur' or discretion. It has been used in French literature for centuries. It suggests that silence can be a powerful tool. In French diplomacy, it is practically a required skill. It is the linguistic equivalent of a knowing wink. It shows you understand the subtext of a situation.
Common Variations
There aren't many ways to twist this specific idiom. However, you might hear garder le silence (to keep silent). You could also hear taire quelque chose (to keep something quiet). Passer sous silence is the most evocative of the bunch. It implies movement, like a ship passing in the night. It is the 'classy' way to describe a cover-up. Stick to the original for maximum impact.
Nutzungshinweise
This is a B2-level phrase because it requires understanding nuance. It is mostly used in formal or semi-formal contexts. Avoid using it for simple accidents; it always implies a choice.
Use it in Essays
In the TCF or DALF exams, using 'passer sous silence' instead of 'ne pas dire' will instantly boost your vocabulary score.
The 'Sous' Rule
Never say 'passer sur silence'. It is the most common error and sounds very non-native.
The Art of the Unspoken
Remember that in France, what you pass under silence is often seen as a sign of your 'éducation' (upbringing) and 'tact'.
Beispiele
6Le directeur a passé les pertes financières sous silence.
The director ignored the financial losses in his report.
Shows a deliberate professional omission.
Elle a passé son retard sous silence pendant tout le dîner.
She didn't mention being late at all during the dinner.
Used for social tact or avoiding embarrassment.
Le ministre préfère passer cette affaire sous silence.
The minister prefers to keep this matter quiet.
Classic political usage.
J'ai passé mon absence sous silence pour ne pas fâcher Julie.
I didn't bring up my absence so I wouldn't make Julie angry.
Strategy for avoiding conflict via text.
J'ai passé le deuxième dessert sous silence dans mon journal de bord.
I conveniently left the second dessert out of my food diary.
Lighthearted use of the phrase for self-deception.
Certains secrets de famille sont passés sous silence pendant des années.
Some family secrets are kept quiet for years.
Reflects a heavy, serious atmosphere.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct preposition and noun.
Le témoin a décidé de passer son passé criminel _______ _______.
The fixed idiom is 'passer [quelque chose] sous silence'.
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly in a professional context?
Context: A manager is hiding budget cuts.
The phrase takes a direct object (les coupes budgétaires) immediately after 'passer sous silence' or between 'passer' and 'sous silence'.
Choose the best response to complete the dialogue.
A: 'Pourquoi n'as-tu pas mentionné ton retard ?' B: '_________________.'
This shows the intentionality (not to annoy the boss) and correct pronoun placement (le).
Match the situation to the most likely use of 'passer sous silence'.
Situation: A historian ignores a king's defeat to make him look better.
The historian (subject) acts upon the defeat (direct object).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenLe témoin a décidé de passer son passé criminel _______ _______.
The fixed idiom is 'passer [quelque chose] sous silence'.
Context: A manager is hiding budget cuts.
The phrase takes a direct object (les coupes budgétaires) immediately after 'passer sous silence' or between 'passer' and 'sous silence'.
A: 'Pourquoi n'as-tu pas mentionné ton retard ?' B: '_________________.'
This shows the intentionality (not to annoy the boss) and correct pronoun placement (le).
Situation: A historian ignores a king's defeat to make him look better.
The historian (subject) acts upon the defeat (direct object).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenNot always. While it often implies hiding something bad, it can also be used for 'tactful discretion' to avoid hurting someone's feelings.
No, you pass *facts* or *events* under silence, not people. To ignore a person, use 'ignorer' or 'faire semblant de ne pas voir'.
'Taire' is a single verb that is more formal. 'Passer sous silence' is more idiomatic and common in journalism.
No, do not use an article. It is always 'sous silence', never 'sous le silence'.
Yes, but mostly in serious or professional conversations. You wouldn't use it while joking with friends about a pizza topping.
Verwandte Redewendungen
taire les faits
synonymTo keep the facts quiet.
faire l'impasse sur
similarTo skip or bypass something.
occulter la vérité
similarTo obscure the truth.
mettre sous le tapis
similarTo sweep under the rug.
