What does “passed over” mean in English?

If someone is “passed over,” they are skipped when a choice is made — and the sad part is they should have been picked. A dog, a job applicant, a prize candidate — anyone can be passed over. It usually feels unfair or unlucky. You hear it most in passive form: “she was passed over again and again.” The phrase says a lot with very few words.

In the clip, a man talks about Baby Girl, a senior dog who spent nearly nine years in a shelter without being adopted. He says: “She just kept getting passed over until we found her.” Visitor after visitor chose a different dog. Baby Girl was skipped every single time. The verb “pass over” means to skip someone when making a choice. You will hear it most in passive form: - “He was passed over for the promotion three times.” - “She was passed over in favor of a younger candidate.” - “They passed over her application without a second look.” The opposite is “to be picked” or “to be chosen.” It works in most everyday situations — jobs, awards, relationships — and always carries a sense that something unfair happened.