Word
slip
US/ˈsɫɪp/
UK/slˈɪp/
Definitions
01to slide by accident
v. to slide suddenly and lose your balance, usually on a wet or smooth surface.
v. 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.”
Antonyms
02to move quietly
v. to move somewhere quickly and quietly so that people do not notice you.
v. 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'.
03to give secretly
v. to give something to someone quickly and secretly.
v. 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.
04to decline or worsen
v. to fall to a lower level or become worse.
v. 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.”
Synonyms
05a small mistake
n. a small mistake, especially one caused by not paying attention.
n. 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.
06a piece of paper
n. a small, thin piece of paper, often used for a specific purpose like a receipt.
n. 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.”
07clothing
n. a light piece of clothing worn under a dress or skirt.
n. 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.”
Synonyms
08a boat's space
n. a place where a boat is kept in a harbour.
n. 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.”
Technical
Real-World Examples
“That difference matters because earthquakes occur when connected blocks of rock build up stress and suddenly slip.” “I write each memory down on a slip of paper before placing it into the jar.” Word family
Idioms
give someone the slip — To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.
let slip — To divulge a secret, as by accident or mistake.
let something slip — To accidentally reveal a secret.
pink slip — A notice of termination of employment.
slip back to old ways — to return to past bad habits
slip into — To put on some clothes rapidly.
slip of the pen — A mistake in handwriting; (loosely) any minor error by the writer that made it into print, having not been caught by editors or proofreaders.
slip of the tongue — A mistake in speech.
slip out — To leave quietly and unnoticed.
slip someone's mind — To be forgotten by someone; to escape someone's memory.
Show all 13
slip the cable — To die.
slip through the cracks — To escape notice or lack sufficient attention.
two slips of latinum — Synonym of two cents (“one's opinion or thoughts”).
Domains
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englishreference.com/q/slip