The phrasal verb "passes in to enemy hands" describes the situation where something (usually a territory or a possession) falls into enemy control. It is pronounced /ˈpæsɪz ɪntu ˈɛnəmi hændz/ and spelled with a double s in "passes" and single s in "enemy". The preposition "in" is pronounced as /ɪn/ and the consonant cluster "nt" is pronounced as a single sound /nt/. The word "hands" is spelled with a silent "d" at the end, but the final "s" is pronounced as /z/.
When the phrase "passes into enemy hands" is used, it refers to a situation in which an object, territory, or information, previously owned or controlled by one party, such as a nation or group, is lost or captured by their adversaries. This phrase is commonly employed in discussions relating to warfare, conflicts, or security breaches.
To elaborate, this phrase implies that the possession or control of the item, location, or data has transitioned from its original owner to an opposing or hostile party. The "enemy" typically represents an individual, group, army, or nation with whom the original entity is engaged in an armed or confrontational situation.
The phrase can be applied to various scenarios. For instance, a physical object, such as a weapon, equipment, or a strategic location, can be said to have "passed into enemy hands" when it is overtaken, seized, or stolen during an armed conflict or military operation. Similarly, the phrase can denote the loss of control over sensitive or classified information, when it becomes accessible to hostile forces either intentionally or due to a security breach.
Overall, the expression "passes into enemy hands" is commonly employed to describe situations where ownership or control of a specific item, area, or information transitions from one entity to their adversaries, often due to military, security, or intelligence-related circumstances.