Pass vs Put him through

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Pass

Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb

Put him through

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Pass
 PassPut him through
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //pʊt hɪm θruː//🇺🇸 //pʊt hɪm θru//
MeaningTo move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.To connect someone on a phone call.
ExampleI will pass the ball to you during the game.Can you please put him through to the manager?
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelA2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsquickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticedput someone through, put a call through, put her through, put him through on hold, put them through directly
Antonymsstop, hold, block-
Common mistakesConfusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts.Confused with 'put through' in other contexts like completing tasks., Omitting 'him' when talking about connecting a person., Using 'to' instead of 'through' when referring to calls.
Usage notesCommonly 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.Commonly used in phone contexts; avoid in formal writing. Use when referring to transferring calls.

See it in real clips

Pass
Put him through

Frequently asked questions: Pass vs Put him through

What's the difference between Pass and Put him through?

Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen. Put him through: To connect someone on a phone call.

Which is more common: Pass and Put him through?

Pass is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game. Put him through: Can you please put him through to the manager?

Can I use Pass and Put him through interchangeably?

Not always. Pass and Put him through 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.

Related comparisons