pass round the hat

English

Verb

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

1. To beg for contributions; to take up a collection.
   • 2012, Catherine Lim, Miss Seetoh in the World, page 105:

     If he declined to help, could she pass round the hat among staff members? Maggie on her part would try to get some help from her mother.