hospital pass

Definitions

1. A pass (for schools, military, etc.) exempting one from regular activities, to instead visit a hospital for treatment
   literally
2. 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.)
   Australia, British, Ireland, figuratively
3. a promotion or delegation which is likely to end in failure or ignominy; a poisoned chalice
   broadly
4. 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.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“His first touch⟳ was horrid – a hospital pass⟳ to Juliano Belletti – but from that moment on his eye-catching football was wonderful to witness.”

“Flood⟳ popped out a careless off-load deep in the French 22 to allow⟳ a clearing kick⟳ to snuff out the danger, and when Nick Easter tried to rumble from deep within his own⟳ 22 his hospital pass⟳ to Tuilagi triggered another knock-on.”

“Brian Maguire is booked for the challenge⟳ on Leo McLoone, who was chasing a hospital pass⟳ from Mark⟳ McHugh.”

“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”

CEFR level