The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Culture & Lifestyle›Internet culture›Smash or Pass
Culture & Lifestyle • Internet culture

Smash or Pass

Smash or Pass is an internet and party game in which participants judge whether they would hypothetically be sexually interested in a person and answer “smash” or “pass.” The subject is often a celebrity, fictional character, or someone known to the players.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Smash or Pass is an internet and party game in which participants judge whether they would hypothetically be sexually interested in a person and answer “smash” or “pass.” The subject is often a celebrity, fictional character, or someone known to the players. The format became popular online and is often used in memes, videos, and social media challenges.

Meaning and format

Smash or Pass is a forced-choice game where players quickly decide whether they would hypothetically have sex with, or reject, a person shown or named to them. The format is intentionally binary and leaves no neutral option.

Internet popularity

The phrase spread through internet and social media culture, where users made videos and posts reacting to images or descriptions of people. Sources describe popularity on platforms including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.

Usage and context

The game is used as light entertainment in casual settings, but it can also be controversial because it reduces people to appearance-based judgments. It is typically discussed as slang and internet culture rather than as a formal game.

The term “smash” is used in slang to mean having sex or hooking up, while “pass” means to decline or refuse. The phrase is sometimes compared with other rating games such as “date or pass” or “fuck, marry, kill.”

Key facts

  • Participants choose between two options: “smash” or “pass.”
  • “Smash” means hypothetical sexual interest; “pass” means not interested.
  • The prompt may feature a person, picture, video, or character.
  • The game has been widely used in online challenges and meme culture.
  • It is generally informal and can be considered vulgar or sexually explicit.
🍁
Canadian context

Canadian readers may encounter the phrase in social media, school-age slang, and online meme culture, especially in English-language internet content.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Smash or Pass” mean?
It is a game where people decide whether they would hypothetically want to have sex with someone (“smash”) or not (“pass”).
Who or what can be included in the game?
Common targets include celebrities, fictional characters, acquaintances, or other people shown in pictures or videos.
Is “Smash or Pass” considered slang?
Yes. It is described as English slang and is associated with informal internet culture.
Where is it commonly used?
It is commonly seen in social media posts, memes, and video challenges, especially on YouTube and TikTok.
Is the phrase sexually explicit?
Yes. The game is based on hypothetical sexual desirability, so it is generally considered vulgar or sexually explicit.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smash_or_pass%3F
    Supports: Defines Smash or Pass as a game about hypothetical sexual desirability and notes common subjects such as celebrities and fictional characters.
  2. Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/culture/slang/smash-or-pass
    Supports: Defines the phrase as a game where participants vote whether they would smash or pass another person based on a picture or video.
  3. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smash_or_pass%3F
    Supports: Describes the game and notes its popularity on social platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
  4. Know Your Meme — https://www.knowyourmeme.com/memes/smash-or-pass
    Supports: Describes Smash or Pass as a slang phrase and challenge used with accompanying images or videos.