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 longSee also: bird, of, passage
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- 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