Slang dictionary
hall pass
[ hawl pas ]
What does hall pass mean?
A hall pass is a note or other object that gives a student permission to walk through the halls of a school unsupervised, usually for a specific purpose, like going to the bathroom or the nurse’s office.
A hall pass is also an agreement between people in a romantic relationship that one or both of them may have sex with other people.
Where does hall pass come from?
In the context of school, from elementary school to high school, a hall pass is a written note or a physical object that gives a student permission to be outside the classroom. This sense of hall pass is recorded as early as the 1930s.
As a metaphorical extension, a hall pass can be used beyond the context of school to describe a situation where something that would not normally be permitted is allowed. For example, an actor might get a hall pass for a terrible performance in a movie because they are so charming in real life. The expression free pass is used in a similar way.
My kids have one “hall pass” to get in trouble, and that is for the two of them to get caught pretending to be one adult in a trench coat. I promise to never be mad about that.
— The Dad (@thedad) January 7, 2020
As a slang term, a hall pass is used to refer an agreement between a couple that they can have sex outside of their relationship, generally on a temporary or one-off basis. Hall pass is specifically used to refer to permission for one partner to sleep with a celebrity without consequences. The term is recorded at least by the 2010s. Hall passes may be a regular thing for a couple or a new development in their relationship.
In addition to the above meanings, Hall Pass is the name of a 2011 American rom-com produced and directed by the Farrelly brothers, starring Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis.
Examples of hall pass
Who uses hall pass?
Outside school, hall pass may be used in the sense of a freebie or getting to break the rules just once.
Do you get a hall pass on working out if your yoga mat is occupied? pic.twitter.com/5XYmioMO31
— Lindsey Andrews (@linzandrews1) January 20, 2020
As sexual slang, a partner in a relationship may be said to get a hall pass. Hall pass is often used, though, to refer to the person outside the relationship the partner is permitted to have sex with. For instance, in Season 4, Episode 10 of the show This is Us, the character Kevin Pearson (an attractive, successful actor on the show) was a married woman’s hall pass.
Putting Patrick Mahomes on my hall pass list is that ok @mrleahy_
— AK (@aliiiiking) January 19, 2020
HALL PASS?! Poor Kevin. 😰 #ThisIsUs https://t.co/abL3DzJJVa
— This Is Us (@NBCThisisUs) January 15, 2020
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of hall pass like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of hall pass that will help our users expand their word mastery.