- 1[intransitive] slip (over) to slide a short distance by accident so that you fall or nearly fall She slipped over on the ice and broke her leg. As I ran up the stairs, my foot slipped and I fell. out of position
- 2[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) to slide out of position or out of your hand His hat had slipped over one eye. The fish slipped out of my hand. The child slipped from his grasp and ran off. (figurative) She was careful not to let her control slip.
- 3[intransitive] + adv./prep. to go somewhere quickly and quietly, especially without being noticed synonym creep She slipped out of the house before the others were awake. The ship slipped into the harbor at night. (figurative) She knew that time was slipping away.
- 4[transitive] to put something somewhere quickly, quietly, or secretly slip something + adv./prep. Anna slipped her hand into his. He slipped the letter back into its envelope. She slipped her head around the door. I managed to slip a few jokes into my speech. I managed to slip in a few jokes. slip something to somebody They'd slipped some money to the guards. slip somebody something They'd slipped the guards some money. become worse
- 5[intransitive] to fall to a lower level; to become worse His popularity has slipped recently. The director never lets the tension slip. That's three times she's beaten me—I must be slipping! into difficult situation
- 6[intransitive] + adv./prep. to pass into a particular state or situation, especially a difficult or unpleasant one He began to slip into debt. The patient had slipped into a coma. We seem to have slipped behind schedule. clothes on/off
- 7[intransitive, transitive] to put clothes on or to take them off quickly and easily + adv./prep. to slip into/out of a dress slip something + adv./prep. to slip your shoes on/off He slipped a coat over his sweatshirt.
- 8[transitive] to get free; to make something or someone/yourself free from something slip something The ship had slipped its moorings in the night. The dog slipped its collar. slip (something) + adj. The animal had slipped free and escaped. Idioms
verb jump to other results
NAmE//slɪp//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they slip he / she / it slips
past simple slipped
-ing form slipping
to be forgotten or missed by a system or program that was organized to deal with a particular situation Fatherless kids were not allowed to fall through the cracks. In spite of excellent quality control, some faulty goods always manage to slip through the cracks.
to give someone information that is supposed to be secret I happened to let it slip that he had given me $5,000 for the car. She tried not to let slip what she knew.
to miss or fail to use an opportunity Don't let the chance to work abroad slip through your fingers.
to be easy to say or pronounce It's not a name that exactly trips off the tongue, is it?
if something slips your mind, you forget it or forget to do it I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It completely slipped my mind.
to trick someone
when someone or something slips through the net, an organization or a system fails to find them and deal with them We tried to contact all former students, but one or two slipped through the net. Phrasal Verbsslip awayslip outslip up
Check pronunciation: slip