De paso

[poli]

Is this a common term? What does it mean?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by poli

Is this a common term? What does it mean?

I cannot think of the term in English at this moment...

However, it mean you are just making a short stop and continuing your trip....

or just making a comment
Sorry for not being of much help, if at all.

[CrOtALiTo]

Anyhow I believe that it can be took as a simple term of ( To move ) ( To trip ) As Chile said before.

[poli]

Could it mean to allow or permit?

[irmamar]

This means pass through, I think, and also to make the most:

Están unos días de paso en la ciudad (they're going somewhere and pass through the city for a few days)
De paso que vas a la farmacia, tráeme aspirinas (make the most of your time, well, I'm not sure in English , I mean "aprovecha que vas a la farmacia y tráeme...)

[Marsopa]

In some sentences this could be translated as "in passing."

[poli]

I thought there may have been another meaning. I suspect it's Spain-specific.

[irmamar]

Could you write the sentence?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by poli

Could it mean to allow or permit?

Not that I know.


Mostly it gives the idea of doing something on the way or taking advantage of something.


Voy a la farmacia, ¿quieres que te traiga algo de paso?
I'm going to the drugstore, do you want me to bring something to you from around there or on my way back?

María me ayudó con la tarea y de paso me enseñó a tejer.
María helped me with my homework and since she already was there, she taught me how to knit.

Tratamos de aprender un idioma extranjero y de paso aprendemos más del nuestro.
We're trying to learn a foreign language and at the same time we learn more about ours.

[María José]

I can only think of the two translations that have already been suggested:
- in passing
- while I was at it
Sometimes we use the expression 'olvídame, que voy de paso' when we don't want to be dragged into an argument.