hospital pass

== English == === Pronunciation === === Noun === hospital pass (plural hospital passes) (literally) A pass (for schools, military, etc.) exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital for treatment (figuratively, sports, British, Australia, Ireland) A poorly executed pass to a team-mate, who is likely to lose the ball as a result. (Originally rugby union, where the recipient of a hospital pass is a sitting duck for a hard tackle.) 2009 (23 November), Mark Fleming "Kakuta puts rare talent on display", The Independent (London): His first touch was horrid – a hospital pass to Juliano Belletti – but from that moment on his eye-catching football was wonderful to witness. 2012 (5 August), As It Happened - SFC quarter-finals RTÉ: Brian Maguire is booked for the challenge on Leo McLoone, who was chasing a hospital pass from Mark McHugh. (by extension) a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice 1997 (23 July) Gary Streeter, Hansard HC Deb vol 298 c980: Having identified a problem, he took no action to deal with it. Lacking the courage of our convictions, he gave a hospital pass to the Bank of England, which then had little option but to step in and raise interest rates (figuratively, Ultimate Frisbee) A throw that stays in the air long enough that it allows too many people to get underneath it, increasing the risk of injury and a trip to the hospital. ==== Translations ==== === See also === Hail Mary pass