march past

march past

1. Literally, to walk past (someone or something) in a unified group or regimented file or formation. We all trembled in fear as the soldiers marched past. As if to add insult to injury at having to stay home and study, a huge crowd of people all marched past my window on their way to the ceremony.
2. To proceed or progress onward toward the future without one. My greatest fear is being stuck in some dead-end job, watching the days of my life march past. They deserve the disqualification—let the championship march past them this year!
See also: march, past
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

march past someone or something

to move in a file or formation past someone or something. The people in the parade marched past the children standing on the curb. The soldiers marched past the general.
See also: march, past
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • look past
  • sneak past (someone or something)
  • in times past
  • knew it was coming
  • know (something) is coming
  • brush past (someone or something)
  • the (dim and) distant past
  • the distant past
  • blow past (someone or something)
  • settle a score/an account
References in periodicals archive
The contingents of JKAP, JK Executive Police, JK Lady Police, CRPF, JK FPF, besides the contingents of Senior Group Students and Junior Group Students of different private and Government schools took part in the march past while Deputy SP Dr Ishan Gupta commanded the parade.
The marchers received thundering applauses from the sitting spectators when the March Past on the tones of doll (drums) surna (pipe) which turned the whole complexion into a melodious one.
Abayomi Oke made this known at the weekend, adding that the Military and Para-Military agencies, as well as voluntary organizations, such as Boys Scouts, Girls Guild, Man O War, Red Cross amongst others, are expected to participate in the March Past and the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi will declare the ceremony open by10 am and take the March Past salute.
Changing the Guard and times WATCHING the Royal Navy taking part in the 'Changing the Guard' ceremony at Buckingham Palace is a clear indication of how things have changed; during my years (1950s/60s) we were often reminded that "The Royal Marines will march past, the Royal Navy will walk past and the Fleet-Air-Arm will get past the best way they can".
This was followed by spectacular march past by the complete parade.
The reason for this was to shorten the service to allow the veterans to march past with the minimum delay.
They were part of two processions that had left St John's Church to march past the City Hall where the salute was taken by the Duke of Beaufort, as personal representative of the King, which was the climax of Cardiff 's Thanksgiving celebrations.
President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif reviewed the march past and salute presented by contingents of the armed forces of Pakistan.
In the past, there have been instances when nondescript officials were seen cheering and waving more than athletes in the march past. But Sumariwala said that will not be the case this time.
But a number were able to march past St Patrick's Church in the north of the city which has previously been the subject of defiant attention from loyalists.
This was followed by a march past, headed by Bahrain, and displays, in which thousands of students took part, wearing traditional costumes of Indian states and greeted dignitaries.
The synchronized march past by Military and police contingent was led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Lt General Subroto Mitra.
The programme commenced with a march past in which ISAM students belonging to four different houses took part.
HAVING attended the Remembrance Service and march past the Liverpool Cenotaph on November 11, I was, like many others, pleased with the amount of people who turned out to pay their respects to the fallen from Liverpool in two world wars and the many conflicts since.
Bugler - Reveille; Hymn - O God our Help in Ages Past; Act of Commitment; The Lord's Prayer; Blessing; Wreath Laying; March Past.