passing the hat
Circulating for contributions
Passing the hat is collecting money from a group, typically by literally circulating a hat or container for people to drop in contributions.
The phrase evokes informal fundraising—buskers passing the hat after a street performance, or colleagues gathering donations for a coworker's gift: We're passing the hat for Janet's retirement present.
It suggests voluntary, often modest contributions rather than formal dues or fees.
- collectionGathered set of items
- church collectionDonations gathered during worship
- donationVoluntary charitable gift
- buskingPublic performance for donations
- tip jarContainer for gratuities
charity · crowdfunding · panhandling · spare change · contribution · chip in · fundraising · good cause · street performer · street corner · coins · generosity · begging · alms · soliciting · audience · gratitude · bucket
- fundraisingdonation, donations, donor, donors, fundraiser
- Street Performersbusker, street performer, street singer, street dancer, juggler
- money demandstax, fee, fees, toll, tolls
passing the hatfooting the bill
Assuming financial responsibility
paying out · funding · bankrolling · subsidizing · sponsoring
pass, passing, passed, passes, passer, passable, impassable, passage, passenger