selling the pass
Preserved but no longer current.
Betraying one's own side. The phrase was originally Irish, and is applied to those who turn king's evidence, or who impeach their comrades for money. The tradition is that a regiment was sent by Crotha, "lord of Atha," to hold a pass against the invading army of Trathal, "King of Gael." The pass was betrayed for money; the Fir- bolgs were subdued, and Trathal assumed the title of "King of Ireland.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “selling the pass” mean?
Betraying one's own side. The phrase was originally Irish, and is applied to those who turn king's evidence, or who impeach their comrades for money. The tradition is that a regiment was sent by Crotha, "lord of Atha," to hold a pass against the invading army of Trathal, "King of Gael." The pass was betrayed for money; the Fir- bolgs were subdued, and Trathal assumed the title of "King of Ireland.
Is “selling the pass” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.