expression
while passing each other
Describes an action that occurs at the moment two people or things pass by each other, often in opposite directions. The suffix ざま indicates the timing or occasion of the action.
See also: ざま
すれ違いざまに、彼は私に微笑んだ。
He smiled at me as we passed each other.
すれ違いざまに鞄がぶつかった。
Our bags bumped into each other as we passed.
Compound of すれ違い (the noun form of すれ違う, 'to pass by each other') and the suffix ざま ('while', 'at the time of'). The suffix ざま is a voiced variant of さま (様).