# slip

/ˈsɫɪp/ (US) · /slˈɪp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slip
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to slide by accident

verb · CEFR A2

to slide suddenly and lose your balance, usually on a wet or smooth surface.

For teachers: to lose traction on a surface, resulting in an involuntary sliding movement.

- Be careful not to slip on the icy pavement outside the shop.
- The hiker slipped on the loose scree, narrowly avoiding a dangerous fall into the ravine below.

### 2. to move quietly

verb · CEFR B1

to move somewhere quickly and quietly so that people do not notice you.

For teachers: to move or pass with a smooth, quiet, or secretive motion to avoid detection.

- She tried to slip out of the room before the meeting ended.
- He managed to slip through the crowd unnoticed, disappearing into the narrow alleyways of the old city.

Usage: Often used with prepositions like 'into', 'out of', or 'away'.

### 3. to give secretly

verb · CEFR B2

to give something to someone quickly and secretly.

For teachers: to pass an object to another person in a discreet or covert manner.

- The witness slipped a note to the lawyer during the trial.
- The informant slipped the microfilm into the agent's pocket while they stood together at the crowded bar.

Usage: Takes a direct object and an indirect object.

### 4. to decline or worsen

verb · CEFR B2

to fall to a lower level or become worse.

For teachers: to decline in quality, value, or standard; to move into a worse state.

- The company's profits began to slip after the new competitor arrived.
- Standards of service at the hotel have slipped significantly since the change in management last year.

### 5. a small mistake

noun · CEFR B1

a small mistake, especially one caused by not paying attention.

For teachers: a minor or accidental error, often resulting from a temporary lapse in concentration.

- It was just a small slip, but it changed the meaning of the whole sentence.
- The accountant's minor slip in the final calculations resulted in a discrepancy of several thousand pounds.

Teaching tip: Often used in the phrase 'a slip of the tongue' for a speaking mistake.

### 6. a piece of paper

noun · CEFR B1

a small, thin piece of paper, often used for a specific purpose like a receipt.

For teachers: a small strip or piece of paper, typically used for records, forms, or brief notes.

- Please write your phone number on this slip of paper.
- The librarian handed him a yellow slip indicating that his requested book had finally arrived.

### 7. clothing

noun · CEFR B2

a light piece of clothing worn under a dress or skirt.

For teachers: a woman's undergarment intended to provide a smooth silhouette or prevent outer garments from clinging.

- She wore a silk slip under her lace dress to make it hang better.
- The vintage boutique specialised in silk slips and lace camisoles from the mid-twentieth century.

### 8. a boat's space

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a place where a boat is kept in a harbour.

For teachers: a docking space or berth for a vessel between two piers or in a boathouse.

- The yacht was safely moored in its slip before the storm arrived.
- The marina manager assigned the visiting catamaran to a wider slip near the fuel dock.

## Examples

- I made a small slip on my tax form.
- The bank teller asked me to fill out a deposit slip before standing in line.
- While the report was generally excellent, a single numerical slip in the final chapter led to a significant misunderstanding of the projected quarterly earnings.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.