"past due"

Question

Is the word "due" in this phrase refer to a payment that's past its due date, thus the term "past due"? or is it (the word "due") referred to the "due date" that is now past?

I know maybe they are essentially the same and I'm thinking there's such minute difference between the two you might think it's not even worth distinguishing. But I am afraid I might have been interpreting it the wrong way and using it as such. Below is a sentence from an email of mine.

"I have turned in all missing assignments as of now. However, if you find any that's still past due, please let me know."

Now did I use it correctly?

Raen

Ivanhr · Accepted Answer

'past due' can mean only 'past its due date' in your example and I suggest that you use the whole phrase.

Raen · Answer

Thanks for the reply. But I am confused. Isn't "past due" the whole phrase? What do mean by your suggestion?

To be sure, I wanted to know if I used the phrase correctly in this sentence. To be specific, I referred the past due to the "missing assignments" but I am not sure if that's correct since now I wonder if past due means some kind of "payments" or "bill" that now is late.

Thanks in advance for your response

Ivanhr · Answer

RaenTo be specific, I referred the past due to the "missing assignments"

That's how I understand it too.

Sorry, you're right. Indeed , you can use either 'past due' or 'past its due date' (both mean overdue).

"past due"

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