Cool MateCount me out vs Pass
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Count me out
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Pass
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: PassMost common: Pass
| Count me out | Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kaʊnt mi aʊt//🇺🇸 //kaʊnt mi aʊt// | 🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Don't include me or involve me. | To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen. |
| Example | When they planned the surprise party, I said to count me out. | I will pass the ball to you during the game. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | count me in, count out votes, count out money | quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticed |
| Antonyms | - | stop, hold, block |
| Common mistakes | Using in formal contexts when it's not appropriate., Confusing with 'count me in', which means you want to participate., Not expressing your reasons for wanting to be excluded. | Confusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use when you want to say you don't want to participate. It's informal, so avoid in formal situations. | Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Can refer to physical movement or to allowing someone to take a turn (e.g., in games). Not typically used in very formal writing when describing decisions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Count me out vs Pass
What's the difference between Count me out and Pass?
Count me out: Don't include me or involve me. Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.
Which is more formal: Count me out and Pass?
Pass is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Count me out and Pass?
Pass is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Count me out: When they planned the surprise party, I said to count me out. Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game.
Can I use Count me out and Pass interchangeably?
Not always. Count me out and Pass are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.