slip
/slɪp/ (bre, ipa) · /slɪp/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈslip/ (ame, mw)
slip — verb
- slippresent simple I / you / we / they
- slipshe / she / it
- slippedpast simple
- slipping-ing form
1. to accidentally slide on a slippery or wet surface, often losing your balance or
to accidentally slide on a slippery or wet surface, often losing your balance or falling
Bao slipped on the wet floor of the school hallway and dropped his books.
slip on [wet surface] for accidental sliding
My foot slipped as I climbed down the muddy bank near the river.
Yara's skateboard slipped sideways on the gravel, and she nearly fell.
A hiker slipped on a loose rock while crossing the mountain trail.
The path was so icy that several people slipped before noon.
文法句型
slip + on + [surface]
用法筆記
The surface that causes the slip is introduced by 'on': slip on ice, slip on a wet floor, slip on a banana peel. Rarely used transitively in this sense.
常見錯誤
2. when an object shifts away from where it should be because it was not fastened,
when an object shifts away from where it should be because it was not fastened, held, or supported properly
The heavy suitcase slipped from Walid's grasp and hit the floor.
slip from [someone's] grasp/hand
Jenna's glasses slipped down her nose while she was chopping onions.
slip down — gradual downward movement
The rope around the boat slipped loose when the wind picked up.
Evelyn's bracelet slipped off her wrist during the volleyball match.
The ladder slipped sideways against the wall, and Chidi grabbed it just in time.
文法句型
slip + off/down/out of/from
用法筆記
Common with adverbs and prepositions of direction: off, down, out of, from, sideways. The subject is usually an object that was resting against something or held by someone.
3. to go or put something in a quick, quiet way that other people do not notice, or
to go or put something in a quick, quiet way that other people do not notice, or to leave a place without being seen
Asher slipped out of the meeting while everyone was still arguing about the budget.
slip out of [place] — leave unnoticed
Nikhil slipped a note under Apinya's door before heading to the airport.
slip + [object] + under/into [place] — put discreetly
The cat slipped through the half-open gate into the garden.
Jude slipped the key into his pocket without anyone noticing.
Élise slipped her phone into her bag just before the teacher turned around.
文法句型
slip + out of/into/through + [place]
slip + [object] + into/under + [place]
用法筆記
The intransitive use describes a person moving stealthily (slip out, slip away, slip through). The transitive use describes placing something discreetly (slip a note under the door, slip money into someone's hand).
常見錯誤
4. to become gradually poorer in quality, standard, or performance, often because n
to become gradually poorer in quality, standard, or performance, often because nobody is paying enough attention
The quality of service at the hotel had slipped badly since our last visit.
quality / standards + slip + adverb — gradual decline
João's grades slipped after he stopped attending the study group.
Safety standards in the warehouse have slipped since the new manager took over.
Grandmother's health slipped slowly over the winter, and she grew very weak.
Sales slipped by twelve percent last quarter, so the company needs a new plan.
- decline
more formal and broader in use
- deteriorate
more formal; suggests irreversible worsening
- drop
suggests a faster or more sudden fall
- improve
to become better
文法句型
slip + adverb (badly/steadily/gradually)
用法筆記
Often describes a gradual worsening of quality, standards, health, or performance. Intransitive only. The agent of decline is usually implied (lack of attention, poor management) rather than stated.
5. to free yourself or someone else from something that holds or restrains you, suc
to free yourself or someone else from something that holds or restrains you, such as a rope, a grip, or a collar
The dog slipped its collar and ran across the busy street.
slip + [restraining item] — free oneself from it
Yumi managed to slip free from her little brother's tight hug.
slip free from [grip/hold]
The escaped prisoner slipped his handcuffs and ran toward the woods.
Constanza tried to slip away from the crowd, but her friends called her back.
The fish slipped out of the net and swam back into the deep water.
- escape
broader; can refer to any kind of escape, not just from physical restraint
- break free
more forceful; suggests using strength to escape
文法句型
slip + [restraint/item that holds]
slip + free/away
用法筆記
The object is typically an item that holds or restrains: collar, leash, handcuffs, grasp, net. Can also be used with 'free' or 'away' to emphasise the escape.
6. when boxing, to dodge a blow by turning your upper body sharply to the side
when boxing, to dodge a blow by turning your upper body sharply to the side
The boxer slipped his opponent's jab and answered with a quick hook.
slip + [punch type] — boxing dodge
Christopher trained for months to learn how to slip punches properly.
Megan slipped a right cross and then landed a clean hit to the body.
The coach showed the young fighter how to slip and counterattack in one motion.
The champion slipped three straight punches before the bell ended the round.
文法句型
slip + [type of punch]
用法筆記
Domain-specific to boxing. The object is typically a type of punch: jab, cross, hook, straight punch. In boxing commentary, 'slip' is distinct from 'duck' (duck goes under the punch) and 'block' (uses arms to stop it).
7. to become worth less money, especially over a period of time — used of investmen
to become worth less money, especially over a period of time — used of investments, currencies, or assets whose market price falls gradually.
Noa watched his company's shares slip in value during the market downturn.
slip in value + time context (during + noun)
The value of the old painting slipped steadily over twenty years.
Investors grew worried as stock prices slipped for the third day in a row.
Apinya realised her savings had slipped in value because of rising inflation.
As the yen slipped against the dollar, Japanese exporters welcomed the change.
文法句型
slip + in value
slip + against [currency]
用法筆記
Subject is usually a financial asset, currency, or investment. Not used for physical measurements such as temperature or speed — use 'drop' or 'fall' instead.
常見錯誤
8. to put on or take off an item of clothing with one smooth, quick action, often w
to put on or take off an item of clothing with one smooth, quick action, often without having to undo buttons or fasteners.
Mauricio slipped off his shoes at the door before entering the temple.
slip off + shoes — remove smoothly
Noa slipped into a warm sweater after coming inside from the snow.
slip into + (item of clothing) — put on smoothly
Min slipped out of her jacket and hung it neatly on the hook.
Baraka slipped on his coat and left the house in a hurry.
Iris slipped the dress over her head and checked herself in the mirror.
文法句型
slip + into/out of + clothing
slip + on/off + clothing
slip + [garment] + over/onto + body part
用法筆記
Commonly used with the prepositions 'into', 'out of', 'on', and 'off'. The action always suggests speed and ease — unlike 'put on', which is neutral and slower. For transitive use ('slip something on/off'), the garment is the object and a preposition follows.
常見錯誤
slip — noun
- slipsingular
- slipsplural
1. a small, thin piece of paper used for writing notes on or as a record of a payme
a small, thin piece of paper used for writing notes on or as a record of a payment, bet, order, or other transaction
Dewi handed the cashier a deposit slip with her account number on it.
collocation: deposit slip
The waiter wrote our order on a small slip of paper.
collocation: slip of paper
Layla found a pink betting slip inside her jacket pocket.
Each pay slip shows how much tax Kabir paid that month.
Min tore a slip from the notepad and passed it to Adina.
文法句型
slip + of + paper
modifier + slip
用法筆記
Often combined with a noun that describes the purpose of the slip, such as 'deposit slip', 'betting slip', or 'payslip'.
常見錯誤
2. a small, often careless mistake made while speaking, writing, or making a judgme
a small, often careless mistake made while speaking, writing, or making a judgment, usually without intending to
Calling his teacher 'Mom' was an embarrassing slip in front of the whole class.
typical context: embarrassing slip in speech
A slip of the tongue made Rafael accidentally reveal the surprise party plan.
idiom: a slip of the tongue
The annual report had one slip where the date was printed wrong.
Eve's slip in judgment cost the team their biggest client that year.
A small slip in the calculation led to a huge difference in the final budget.
文法句型
slip + of + the + tongue
slip + of + the + pen
slip + in + noun
用法筆記
Frequently appears in fixed expressions like 'a slip of the tongue' (a speaking error) and 'a slip of the pen' (a writing error). The object of the preposition 'in' names the area where the mistake occurred (e.g. 'slip in judgment', 'slip in calculation').
常見錯誤
3. a sudden loss of balance or grip that causes a person to slide or fall, typicall
a sudden loss of balance or grip that causes a person to slide or fall, typically on a wet, icy, or slippery surface
Heloísa took a nasty slip on the wet floor near the swimming pool.
collocation: take a slip
The old man's slip on the icy footpath broke his reading glasses.
One slip on the muddy trail sent Selim sliding down the hillside.
Sade's slip on the stairs left her ankle swollen and painful for days.
文法句型
take + a + slip
have + a + slip
用法筆記
Often used with 'take' or 'have' ('took a slip', 'had a slip'). The preposition 'on' specifies the surface or location where the slip occurred. Similar to 'trip' but specifically involves losing friction rather than catching one's foot.
常見錯誤
4. a noticeable drop in quality, performance, behaviour, or standards compared to a
a noticeable drop in quality, performance, behaviour, or standards compared to a previous, better level
The company's slip in sales worried everyone in the factory.
collocation: slip in sales
A slip in the quality of her essays made the teacher ask what was wrong.
collocation: slip in quality
There has been a noticeable slip in test scores since the new schedule began.
Obi's slip in performance cost him his place on the starting team.
文法句型
slip + in + noun (quality/performance/standards)
slip + from + noun
用法筆記
The preposition 'in' introduces the area where the decline occurs. This sense differs from the MISTAKE sense (noun/2) in that it describes a continuing trend or drop over time, not a single small error. Distinguish from the verb sense 'slip' (GET WORSE) which names the action of getting worse — this noun sense names the resulting decline itself.
常見錯誤
5. a woman's lightweight undergarment with thin shoulder straps, worn beneath outer
a woman's lightweight undergarment with thin shoulder straps, worn beneath outer clothing to help the top layer hang smoothly or prevent see-through issues
Jessica wore a silk slip under her blue evening dress.
collocation: silk slip
The white slip was visible beneath the thin fabric of Lotte's summer skirt.
typical use: visible beneath thin fabric
Aunt Ari bought a new slip to wear at her niece's wedding ceremony.
The bride's slip had delicate lace stitched along the bottom edge.
- petticoat
a similar undergarment but often wider and worn to add fullness to a skirt
- underskirt
a general term for any skirt worn underneath an outer skirt
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'petticoat' — a slip is typically lighter in weight and has thinner shoulder straps, while a petticoat is often fuller and worn to add volume. This sense is becoming less common as modern clothing styles change.
常見錯誤
6. a purpose-built water space between two parallel piers or platforms, designed fo
a purpose-built water space between two parallel piers or platforms, designed for mooring, tying up, or launching a vessel
The fishing boat was secured at the slip between the two stone piers.
collocation: secured at the slip
A large yacht slowly entered the slip to tie up for the night.
The passenger ferry leaves from slip number three every morning at seven.
The harbour master directed the sailboat into an empty slip near the fuel dock.
用法筆記
Common in nautical and harbour contexts. Distinguish from 'dock' — a slip is specifically the water space between two piers, while 'dock' can refer to the entire structure. Often numbered (e.g. 'slip 4') in harbours and marinas.
7. a position on the playing field in cricket, close behind and to one side of the
a position on the playing field in cricket, close behind and to one side of the batter, where fielders stand ready to catch balls that have just touched the bat
Saira was placed at first slip during the afternoon session of the match.
position of a fielder behind the batter in cricket
The captain moved two fielders into the slips after the bowler's pace increased.
A ball that flew straight to slip gave the team their third wicket of the innings.
Dewi spent every training session working on her reflexes in the slip position.
8. a fielder who stands in the slip area behind the batter, whose main job is to ca
a fielder who stands in the slip area behind the batter, whose main job is to catch balls that fly off the bat at an angle
The slip caught the ball one-handed and the crowd roared with excitement.
fielder positioned in the slip area
Joshua was the only slip who managed to hold on to a difficult edge all day.
Both slips moved several steps closer when the spinner came on to bowl.
The coach told the slip to watch the edge of the bat more carefully.
- fielder
the general term for any defensive player; 'slip' specifies the exact position
用法筆記
Unlike sense 7, which refers to the position itself, this sense refers to the player occupying that position. The word 'slip' can be used alone to mean the fielder (e.g., 'the slip dived to his left').
9. a liquid made by blending clay with water until it is thin enough to pour, which
a liquid made by blending clay with water until it is thin enough to pour, which potters apply to ceramics for joining parts or for creating a smooth surface layer before baking
Rania dipped her fingers into the slip and smoothed it over the crack in the bowl.
watery clay used in pottery for joining or coating
The potter applied a thin layer of white slip to the vase before painting it.
If the slip is too thick, it will crack when the clay dries.
Yael used a brush to paint slip onto the rim of the cup for a decorative edge.
10. a person, especially a young one, who is very thin and small in body size
a person, especially a young one, who is very thin and small in body size
Iris was just a slip of a girl when she joined the dance troupe at age eleven.
phrase: 'a slip of a [person]' for a thin young person
The old photograph showed Tariro as a tiny slip in a school uniform that was too big.
A slip of a boy stood at the back of the classroom, barely reaching the teacher's shoulder.
The children teased her for being such a slip, but she grew tall the next year.
用法筆記
Almost always found in the fixed expression 'a slip of a + noun', such as 'a slip of a girl/woman/boy/man'. This sense carries a gentle, descriptive tone rather than a negative one.
11. a successful escape from a pursuer, achieved by moving fast or using a clever tr
a successful escape from a pursuer, achieved by moving fast or using a clever trick
The thief gave the police the slip by running through a crowded market.
fixed phrase: 'give someone the slip'
Daichi managed a clean slip from the guards by hiding behind a delivery truck.
The spy's slip was so well planned that the agents did not notice until morning.
The cat made a quick slip out the door before anyone could close it.
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in the idiom 'give someone the slip', which means to escape from someone who is following you. The stand-alone use ('made a slip') is much rarer.