watch the pass
v. phr.— «Another free thing that Nantucketers have been taking advantage of for centuries is what is known as “watching the pass.” Also known as sitting on a bench downtown and getting a good look at the tourists and other folks. Hey, it’s much cheaper than cable. And it’s interactive.» —“YACK on: Free” by Grant Sanders Nantucket Independent (Massachusetts) May 30, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Nancy Friedman is a naming and branding expert with a fantastic newsletter about language, Fritinancy which recently covered the neologism stinge-watching. It’s the opposite of binge-watching, and refers to the act of spacing out viewings of a...
Visiting firemen doesn’t necessarily refer to firefighters. The terms visiting fireman and visiting firemen may refer to any of several types of visitors from out of town, including non-firefighting celebrities, tourists, and rowdy conventioneers...