pass the time of day

pass the time of day

To chat, gossip, or exchange pleasantries (with someone). I love walking down to the local shop and passing the time of day with everyone in the neighborhood along the way.
See also: of, pass, time
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pass the time of day (with someone)

to chat or talk informally with someone. I saw Mr. Brown in town yesterday. I stopped and passed the time of day with him. No, we didn't have a serious talk; we just passed the time of day.
See also: of, pass, time
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

pass the time of day

exchange a greeting or casual remarks.
See also: of, pass, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pass the time of ˈday (with somebody)

greet somebody and have a short conversation with them about things that are not very important: I don’t know any of the neighbours very well, only just enough to pass the the time of day.
See also: of, pass, time
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

pass the time of day

To exchange greetings or engage in pleasantries.
See also: of, pass, time
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

pass the time of day, to

To exchange greetings, pleasantries, or chat; engage in small talk. The redoubtable Ebenezer Brewer thought this turn of phrase came from the practice of greeting someone with a remark appropriate to the time of day, such as “Good afternoon.” Whether or not this is true, the term dates from the first half of the nineteenth century and remains current.
See also: of, pass, time
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • pass the time of day, to
  • pass the time of day with (someone)
  • a dog that'll bring a bone will carry a bone
  • jaw about
  • jaw about (someone or something)
  • schmoose
  • schmooze
  • shmooze
  • latrinogram
  • spill the tea
References in periodicals archive
That's true - what some nutters do to pass the time of day interests me, I wouldn't copy them, though, obviously.
It's true.. I've been posing as dashing movie idol for years on my fake CV
Someone can catch your eye, make you smile, or even pass the time of day, and you can feel fortified from this today.
Your stars
One local said: "He'd always go out of his way to say hello and have a little chat, to pass the time of day. You couldn't find a bad word about the guy, he was the landlord's landlord if you know what I mean.
Publican named as bike victim; WALES
Combining this with a coffee kiosk with tables and chairs around would be welcome - like the Piazza Navona or Pantheon Square in Rome, where people sit and read papers and drink coffee, take in the architecture and pass the time of day in conversation.
Letter: More thought for an historically sensitive area; OPINION CHAMBERLAIN SQUARE
AS I stopped to pass the time of day with a well-known cabinet minister, he virtually shouted "I'm not campaigning".
A POSSE'S AFTER PREZZA
"But by the time they go out, they are hardly holding hands, but they can pass the time of day."
For the kids' sake
Right, a girl of 13 is drunk by lunchtime in Perth; DOING THE ROUNDS: Kids getting blazing drunk on the streets is a common sight in rural communities as well as in the big cities; OBLIVION: Two boys pass the time of day by getting out of their heads on a fortified fruit drink and alcoholic lemonade
WE CAN CUT OFF THE NED BOOZE SUPPLY; First Minister McConnell wants to give power to the people in a crackdown on off-licences selling alcohol to underage neds in areas blighted by them
"We say good morning and pass the time of day, and Guy tells me he can get a very good view of her from our bedroom window!"
Behind The Scenes In Lambourn: It's a dog's life for trainee commentator Mitchell
We all know that hurricanes hardly ever happen in Hertfordshire, Herefordshire and Hampshire, but it doesn't take an Eliza Dolittle (no relation to the doctor) to pass the time of day in this magnificent borough.
Ay up it's EVANS: Gertcha! So now you know, Sir Richard
What began as an 'interest' to pass the time of day, during the enforced rest of her first pregnancy, became a passionate and fulfilling outlet for Vivienne's creative energies.
Celebrating a textile art talent
"We'd have a chat down the pub and pass the time of day, we really quite liked them," Mrs Mann said.
Police probe gun tragedy in village
We would often pass the time of day in Newcastle's Bigg Market where he ran the Rupali Restaurant (later to become Curry Capital).
Man to man, the world, o'er shall brothers be for a' that
He'd pass the time of day by walking to the town centre and back"
WALES: Body found in flat after tip-off; Caller 'may be last to see him alive'
Angus Stevenson, project manager with OUP, said much of the frequency with which words such as "time" and "man" feature could be put down to the English love of phrases like "I would not even pass the time of day with him", and "time waits for no man".
Dictionary finds time for new words
Service is quick, but no one stopped to pass the time of day on our visit and we can't remember seeing a smile.
We're well-bread; In our latest Capital of Courtesy report we look at the sandwich bars in the city