/ slɪp; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( -pp- )
SLIDE / FALL
1.
[ v ] 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.
[ 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
SYN creep :
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.
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.
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.
[ v - adj ]
The animal had slipped free and escaped.
[also vn - adj ]
•
IDIOMS
- let slip sth
- let sth slip (through your fingers)
- slip your mind
- slip one over on sb
- slip through the net
—more at gear noun , tongue noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- slip away
- slip out
- slip 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.
—see also Freudian slip ➡ note at mistake
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
—see also payslip
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
•
IDIOMS
- give sb the slip
- a slip of a boy, girl, etc.
- a slip of the pen / tongue
- there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip
••
WORD ORIGIN
verb and noun sense 1 noun senses 3 to 5 Middle English (in the sense move quickly and softly ): probably from Middle Low German slippen (verb); compare with slippery .
noun sense 2 late Middle English : probably from Middle Dutch , Middle Low German slippe cut, strip.