1 slip
/ˈslɪp/
verb
slips;
slipped;
slipping
1 slip
/ˈslɪp/
verb
slips;
slipped;
slipping
Britannica Dictionary definition of SLIP
1
[no object]
:
to slide out of the proper position
-
The ring was too big and slipped off my finger.
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The engine's belt continued to slip.
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The hammer slipped out of my hands.
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The knife slipped and she cut herself.
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My foot slipped on the stair and I fell.
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2
[no object]
:
to lose your balance especially on a slippery surface
-
She slipped and fell.
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— often + on
-
He slipped on the stairs.
-
Be careful not to slip on the ice.
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3
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to move easily across or over something
[no object]
-
The drawer should just slip [=slide] into place.
-
The bib slips over the baby's head.
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[+ object]
-
Help me slip the cover over the piano.
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4
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to move into or out of a place without being noticed
-
Someone was able to slip through security.
-
We'll slip out the back door.
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— see also slip away (below)
5
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to put on or take off a piece of clothing quickly or easily
-
He stood up and slipped on his jacket.
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He slipped off his shoes.
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Let me just slip into my bathrobe.
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You should slip out of those wet clothes.
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6
[+ object]
a
always followed by an adverb or preposition
:
to put or place (something) somewhere in a quiet or secret way
-
He slipped the key into his pocket.
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Someone slipped a drug into his drink.
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He managed to slip in [=include] a few jokes during his speech.
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b
:
to give (something) to someone in a quiet or secret way
-
He slipped the envelope to his secretary. = He slipped his secretary the envelope.
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7
always followed by an adverb or preposition,
[no object]
:
to happen or pass without being noticed by someone or something
-
Time keeps slipping away.
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Her birthday slipped by without us knowing.
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Despite all our efforts, some errors do slip past us.
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We didn't want to let the opportunity slip through our fingers. [=we did not want to let the opportunity pass without taking advantage of it]
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8
[no object]
a
:
to go from one state or condition to another
-
She was slipping out of consciousness.
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— often + into
-
The patient slipped into a coma.
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The word has slipped into disuse.
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The actor slipped into character. [=the actor began to behave, speak, etc., like the character he was playing]
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b
:
to move into a lower or worse state or condition
-
The stock market has slipped to its lowest level in a month.
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I can't believe he beat me. I must be slipping.
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Test scores slipped [=declined] this year.
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9
[+ object]
a
:
to escape (someone)
:
to get away from (someone)
-
The thief slipped his pursuers.
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b
:
to get free from (something)
-
The dog slipped its collar.
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10
[+ object]
medical
:
to have (a part of your body) move out of its normal position especially in a joint
-
I slipped a disc.
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let (something) slip
or
let slip (something)
:
to say (something that you did not want to say) by mistake
-
He let slip that he's looking for a better job.
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Don't let it slip that we hadn't planned on inviting her.
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slip away
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to pass out of existence
-
The afternoon quietly slipped away.
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They saw their four-run lead slip away.
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Their grandmother slipped away [=died] in her sleep last night.
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2
:
to leave a place without being noticed
-
They slipped away from the party right after dinner.
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slip out
[phrasal verb]
:
to be said by mistake
-
I didn't intend to tell them. It just slipped out.
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slip through/between the cracks
— see 2crack
slip through the net
— see 1net
slip up
[phrasal verb]
informal
:
to make a mistake
-
Make sure you don't slip up again.
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slip your mind/memory
informal
:
to be forgotten
-
Her birthday completely slipped my mind. [=I completely forgot about her birthday]
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2 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
plural
slips
2 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
plural
slips
Britannica Dictionary definition of SLIP
[count]
1
a
:
a small piece of paper
-
He wrote the number on a slip of paper.
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b
:
a piece of paper that has a specified use or purpose
-
a deposit slip
-
a betting slip
-
a rejection slip
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— see also pink slip, sales slip
2
:
a mistake
-
a careless slip
-
Their performance was very good except for a few minor slips.
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— see also a slip of the tongue (below), freudian slip
3
:
a movement to a lower or worse state or condition
:
decline
— usually singular
-
a ratings slip = a slip in the ratings
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4
:
the act of losing your balance and falling especially on a slippery surface
— usually singular
-
The bruise is from a slip on the ice.
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5
:
a piece of woman's underwear that is like a thin dress or skirt and that is worn under a dress or skirt
-
Her slip was showing.
-
You will need a half slip [=a slip that only covers you from the waist down] for that dress.
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— see color picture on this page
6
:
a place for a ship or boat in the water between two piers
-
She guided her boat into one of the slips.
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a slip of the tongue
:
something that is said by mistake
-
a careless slip of the tongue
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give (someone) the slip
informal
:
to escape (someone)
:
to get away from (someone)
-
The intruder ran from the police and gave them the slip.
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— compare 3slip, 4slip
3 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
3 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of SLIP
[singular]
old-fashioned
:
a young, thin person or animal
— + of
-
He was a mere slip of a boy. [=he was just a small boy]
-
She was a wee slip of a thing.
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— compare 2slip, 4slip
4 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
4 slip
/ˈslɪp/
noun
Britannica Dictionary definition of SLIP
[noncount]
technical
:
thin, wet clay that is used in pottery
— compare 2slip, 3slip
