passage

a rough passage

A particularly difficult, trying, or unpleasant experience. Despite the romanticized image we have now, America's early pioneers faced a rough passage of starvation, disease, and murder in their journey west. The markets have had a rough passage over the past week, as threats of a trade war has made investors skittish.
See also: passage, rough

bird of passage

A person who remains unfixed to a certain location, relocating from one place to another. The economy has forced me to become a bird of passage, moving around the state to wherever I can find work.
See also: bird, of, passage

passage of arms

obsolete A skirmish, conflict, dispute, or fight. There is no better man to have beside you with a sword in a passage of arms. It came to light that the elderly patron of the theater engaged in a passage of arms with the director about the issue, even going so far as threatening to withdraw her support.
See also: arm, of, passage

quote from (someone or something)

To write or recite a quotation verbatim from some author or piece of writing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "quote" and "from" to specify what has been quoted. I'd love to quote a few lines from your poem during my speech, if that's all right. It took me a while to realize he was quoting from Shakespeare.
See also: quote

rite of passage

An event or activity often performed or experienced as part of passing from one stage of life to another. Bar Mitzvah celebrations are a rite of passage as Jewish boys become men. Getting lost while trying to find their classrooms is kind of a rite of passage for freshmen at this school.
See also: of, passage, rite

work (one's) passage

To do work in exchange for free travel to a specific town or country. After his company went bust in Los Angeles, Martin had to work his passage back to his family's home in Britain.
See also: passage, work
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

bird of passage

A transient, one who is here today and gone tomorrow. For example, Mary moves nearly every year; she's a true bird of passage. This phrase transfers the literal meaning of a migrating bird to human behavior. [Second half of 1700s]
See also: bird, of, passage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a bird of passage

If you call someone a bird of passage, you mean that they never stay in one place for long. Most of these emigrants were birds of passage who returned to Spain after a relatively short stay.
See also: bird, of, passage
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a bird of passage

someone who is always moving on.
Literally, a bird of passage is a migrant bird.
See also: bird, of, passage

passage of (or at) arms

a fight or dispute.
See also: arm, of, passage

work your passage

work in return for a free place on a voyage.
See also: passage, work

rite of passage

a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone's life, especially birth, initiation, marriage, and death.
See also: of, passage, rite

a rough passage

a difficult time or experience.
See also: passage, rough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌbird of ˈpassage

a person who does not stay in a place for very long
See also: bird, of, passage
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a rough passage
  • learn (something) the hard way
  • learn the hard way
  • find (something) out the hard way
  • have an accident
  • come to a bad end
  • come to a bad/sticky end
  • hard way, the
  • get a taste of (one's) own medicine
  • heave a sigh of relief
References in classic literature
It ran along the passage like a path of gold, and in the midst of it Aurora Rome lay lustrous in her robes of green and gold, with her dead face turned upwards.
And before the others could appreciate his intention he snatched up the dagger, sprang at the other door at the lower end of the passage, burst it open, bolt and all, and confronted Bruno in his dressing-room.
The Wisdom Of Father Brown
The passage was undoubtedly artificial, a tunnel made by the hands of men now long crumbled into dust.
Tom Swift In The Land Of Wonders
She acknowledged having walked from end to end of the passage on the second floor, to see if it was as long as the passage on the first; and she mentioned having noticed with astonishment the position of the truckle-bed.
No Name
What we did /not/ see, however, was the look of fearful malevolence that old Gagool favoured us with as she crept, crept like a snake, out of the treasure chamber and down the passage towards the door of solid rock.
King Solomons Mines
"Did you discover this passage by chance?" I asked more and more surprised.
20000 Leagues Under The Sea
"Now then, stand by for a run," said East, throwing the door wide open and rushing into the passage, closely followed by Tom.
Tom Browns Schooldays
"You talk a great deal of the length of this passage, my dear.
Emma
The whole passage echoed with its beating and Raoul's ears were deafened.
Phantom of the Opera
Their followers pressing on behind, they were borne as on a great wave to the very doors of the gallery, whence it was impossible to retreat, even if they had been so inclined, by reason of the throng which choked up the passages. It is a familiar expression in describing a great crowd, that a person might have walked upon the people's heads.
Barnaby Rudge A Tale Of The Riots Of Eighty
I have dealt with this passage somewhat more fully in my "Authoress of the Odyssey", p.136-138.
Odyssey
As we came down upon him, covering the sea and blowing our conches, he put off from the schooner in the small boat, along with the three black boys, and rowed for the passage. There again he was a fool, for no wise man would put out to sea in so small a boat.
South Sea Tales
We continued our course towards the Red Sea, meeting with nothing in our passage but a gelve, or kind of boat, made of thin boards, sewed together, with no other sail than a mat.
Voyage to Abyssinia
If (to pursue the same vein of improbable conjecture) you were to meet a mild, hard-working little priest, named Father Brown, and were to ask him what he thought was the most singular luck of his life, he would probably reply that upon the whole his best stroke was at the Vernon Hotel, where he had averted a crime and, perhaps, saved a soul, merely by listening to a few footsteps in a passage. He is perhaps a little proud of this wild and wonderful guess of his, and it is possible that he might refer to it.
The Innocence Of Father Brown
For my experience tells me that even after the above directions have been followed with the greatest possible zeal, the student will still halt in perplexity before certain passages in the book before us, and wonder what they mean.
Thus Spake Zarathustra