slip

To slide by accident, often because a surface is wet or smooth.

• Be careful not to slip.
• She slipped on the ice yesterday.
• My foot slipped as I climbed the steps.

How to use it: slip on something (He slipped on the wet floor.)

Similar words: slide

Common phrases: slip on ice, slip and fall

To slide a short distance along a surface.

• My glasses slipped down.
• The strap slipped off her shoulder.
• The ring may slip along the smooth wire.

How to use it: slip down something (Her glasses slipped down her nose.)

Similar words: slide

Common phrases: slip down, slip off something

To move somewhere quietly or quickly without attracting attention.

• He slipped away quietly.
• She slipped into the kitchen.
• We slipped out before the meeting ended.

How to use it: slip into something (She slipped into the room during the speech.); slip out of something (He slipped out of the house before dawn.)

Similar words: sneak

Common phrases: slip away, slip into something, slip out

To move suddenly out of the place where something should stay.

• The rope slipped loose.
• A bone had slipped out of place.
• The belt can slip off its wheel.

How to use it: slip out of something (The rope slipped out of the knot.)

Common phrases: slip out, slip out of place, slip off

To escape from someone’s hold or control with a smooth, quick movement.

• He slipped my grasp.
• The runner slipped a tackle and scored.
• The prisoner slipped the guard’s grip and fled.

Similar words: evade, elude

Common phrases: slip someone’s grasp, slip a tackle

A small piece of paper, often with information written or printed on it.

• Write your name on this slip.
• She found a slip of paper in her pocket.
• Keep the payment slips for your records.

Common phrases: slip of paper, payment slip, salary slip

A small mistake, often made because you are not paying enough attention.

• It was only a small slip.
• She apologized for the slip in her speech.
• A slip of the pen changed the date.

Similar words: mistake, error

Common phrases: a small slip, slip of the tongue, slip of the pen

A sudden accidental slide, especially one that makes you fall or lose your balance.

• A slip on the ice hurt her ankle.
• He recovered his balance after a slight slip.
• Wet floors can cause slips and falls.

Common phrases: slip on ice, a nasty slip