slip

Universal Words verb, noun verb (-pp-) slide / fall 1 [V] ~ (over) to slide a short distance accidentally 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 [V] [usually +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. go / put quickly 3 [V+adv./prep.] to go somewhere quickly and quietly, especially without being noticed: She slipped out of the house before the others were awake. * The ship slipped into the harbour at night. * (figurative) She knew that time was slipping away. 4 to put sth somewhere quickly, quietly or secretly: [VN, +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. * [VNN, VN] They'd slipped the guards some money. * They'd slipped some money to the guards. become worse 5 [V] 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 [V+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 [+adv./prep.] to put clothes on or to take them off quickly and easily: [V] to slip into / out of a dress * [VN] to slip your shoes on / off * He slipped a coat over his sweatshirt. get free 8 to get free; to make sth/sb/yourself free from sth: [VN] The ship had slipped its moorings in the night. * The dog slipped its collar. * [V-ADJ] The animal had slipped free and escaped. [also VN-ADJ] IDIOMS let slip sth to give sb information that is supposed to be secret: I happened to let it slip that he had given me ｣1000 for the car. * She tried not to let slip what she knew. let sth slip (through your fingers) to miss or fail to use an opportunity: Don't let the chance to work abroad slip through your fingers. slip your mind if sth slips your mind, you forget it or forget to do it: I'm sorry I didn't tell you. It completely slipped my mind. slip one over on sb (informal) to trick sb slip through the net when sb/sth 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. moreatGEARn., TONGUEn. PHRASALVERBS slip away to stop existing; to disappear or die: Their support gradually slipped away. slip out when sth slips out, you say it without really intending to: I'm sorry I said that. It just slipped out. slip up (informal) to make a careless mistake: We can't afford to slip up. * The government slipped up badly over the scandal. relatednounSLIP-UP noun small mistake 1 a small mistake, usually made by being careless or not paying attention: He recited the whole poem without making a single slip. * There were a few slips in the translation. seealsoFREUDIANSLIP piece of paper 2 a small piece of paper, especially one for writing on or with sth printed on it: I wrote it down on a slip of paper. * a betting slip seealsoPAYSLIP act of slipping 3 an act of slipping: One slip and you could fall to your death. clothing 4 a piece of women's underwear like a thin dress or skirt, worn under a dress in cricket 5 a player who stands behind and to one side of the BATSMAN and tries to catch the ball; the position on the field where this player stands: first / second / third slip * Who is (at) first slip? * a slip fielder / catch * fielding in the slips IDIOMS give sb the slip (informal) to escape or get away from sb who is following or chasing you: I managed to give him the slip by hiding behind a wall. a slip of a boy, girl, etc. (old-fashioned) a small or thin, usually young, person: She's only a slip of a thing. a slip of the pen / tongue a small mistake in sth that you write or say: Did I call you Richard? Sorry, Robert, just a slip of the tongue.