I've been hearing this phrase a lot lately (2018) often in situations where someone is expressing a kind of righteous indignation... i.e. "HE doesn't get a pass!" ...when someone merely suggests the importance and the need of getting the facts and story straight before condemning said "transgressor". Most common use, I believe, has been to make it clear that no single individual gets preferential treatment over another who has committed the same "transgression"

It means: Letting somebody get away with a social transgression or insult etc. If somebody offends you and you don't say anything to them about it, you are 'giving them a pass' so they get a pass this time. But next time maybe they won't be so lucky?

In basketball, when i player "gets a pass", it means that someone passed a ball to him. When i first read this, its the first thing that came to my mind.

annica's answer is the basic reply.However, It can also mean that your partner has given you their "permission" to go out without them. ex My wife has given me a "pass" to go the football game with you.

Getting a "pass" could mean that e.g. a piece of homework/assignment/exam have more than the amount of points/marks that you need to accomplish or be successful in that class, so you have "passed" the class. You could also pass other things, such as a driving test. If you pass a driving test you have been successful in the test and you will get your driving’s license. Hope this was helpful