Not it vs Pass

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Not it

Informal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Pass

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Most formal: Pass Most common: Pass

	Not it	Pass
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //nɒt ɪt// 🇺🇸 //nɑt ɪt//	🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	A way to avoid responsibility or a task.	To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.
Example	When it was time to clean up, everyone shouted, 'Not it!'	I will pass the ball to you during the game.
Register	Informal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A2
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	say not it, shout not it, call out not it	quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticed
Antonyms	-	stop, hold, block
Common mistakes	Used too seriously; it's meant for lighthearted situations., Misunderstanding the context; only used when avoiding something., Confusing it with other terms like 'not my problem'.	Confusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts.
Usage notes	'Not it' is commonly used among friends or in casual settings. It’s not suitable for formal conversations or professional settings.	Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Can refer to physical movement or to allowing someone to take a turn (e.g., in games). Not typically used in very formal writing when describing decisions.

See it in real clips

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

Not it.

Not it

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

We must take the Pass of Caradhras.

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

And then the pass of Cirith Ungol.

Band Of Brothers › S1 E1

Your weekend pass is cancelled.

Pass

Frequently asked questions: Not it vs Pass

What's the difference between Not it and Pass?

Not it: A way to avoid responsibility or a task. Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen.

Which is more formal: Not it and Pass?

Pass is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Not it and Pass?

Pass is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Not it: When it was time to clean up, everyone shouted, 'Not it!' Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game.

Can I use Not it and Pass interchangeably?

Not always. Not it and Pass are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.