pass out

pass out (third-person singular simple present passes out, present participle passing out, simple past and past participle passed out)

1. (intransitive) To faint; to become unconscious

   I pass out at the sight of blood.

   I passed out on the train after drinking a bottle of vodka.

2. (transitive) To distribute, to hand out

   We'll pass out copies of the agenda.

3. Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see pass,‎ out.
   • 1882, James Jackson, Tom Terror, the Outlaw:

     “You speak of terms,” she said. “These are mine. Stand aside and let me pass.” […] “So you accede to my terms?” she said. “I am to pass out?”

4. (India) To graduate from university.
5. (of soldiers, police, fire-fighters, etc.) To graduate, usually marked by the ceremony at the end of their training.
   • 1974, GB Edwards, The Book of Ebenezer Le Page, New York 2007, p. 113:

     He wasn't allowed to finish his training to go to France; but was sent to England on a Physical Training Course and passed out First Class.

6. (by extension) To become proficient in a particular job or task
   • Rail, issue 857, July 18-July 31 2018, article on Severn Bridge Junction signal box at Shrewsbury:

     "It took me about a month to pass out on this box," he adds. "It's easy to be daunted by all the levers and bell codes and Absolute Block, but it's all the usual rules of anywhere else. You can't just come up here from the street though, and I thought I'd never be able to work this SB [signal box], but you just get on with it until it becomes second nature."

7. (bridge, transitive) To end (a round) by having passes as the first four bids.

• Saputos, outpass