Slip Meaning
Slip Definition & Usage
To lose one's footing or balance, typically resulting in a fall or near-fall.
Examples
- "She slipped on the ice and twisted her ankle."
- "Be careful, the floor is wet and you might slip."
- "I slipped and nearly dropped my coffee on the way to work."
- "The children love to slip on the smooth tiles at the pool."
- "He slipped on the muddy trail while hiking in the rain."
To move smoothly, often without intending to, in a way that seems accidental or secretive.
Examples
- "He slipped into the room unnoticed while everyone was distracted."
- "She slipped a note into his pocket when no one was looking."
- "The thief slipped out of the house without anyone hearing."
- "As I walked past, she slipped her phone into her bag."
- "The politician slipped a few controversial statements into his speech."
To make an unintentional mistake or error, often due to carelessness or lack of attention.
Examples
- "I accidentally slipped and said the wrong thing during the meeting."
- "He slipped up in his interview when he mentioned his past criminal record."
- "Don't slip on the test; make sure you study carefully."
- "She slipped when giving the directions and led us in the wrong way."
- "I slipped while typing and sent the email before finishing it."
An accidental fall or loss of balance, usually due to slipping.
Examples
- "He took a nasty slip on the icy pavement."
- "After the slip, she had to stay home from work for a few days."
- "The slip on the stairs caused him to bruise his ribs."
- "Watch out for those slips—there's still ice on the roads."
- "Her slip during the presentation made everyone laugh."
Cultural Context
The verb 'slip' originated in Middle English and has retained various meanings throughout history, often associated with sudden or unintentional actions. It has been used in both literal and figurative contexts, from physical falls to inadvertent errors or sneaky actions.
The Slippery Situation
Story
The Slippery Situation
Anna had always been a careful person, especially when it came to her morning commute. But today, things seemed different. As she stepped out of the door, the ground felt unusually slick, and before she knew it, she was on the ground. Her briefcase went flying, and she felt a sharp pain shoot through her knee. It wasn’t the first time she’d slipped in the winter, but today felt worse than usual. As she struggled to stand, she noticed something strange—her phone was missing. Panic set in as she realized it must have slipped out of her bag during the fall. Kneeling down, she began searching frantically, but the phone was nowhere to be found. Just as she was about to give up, she saw it glinting near a puddle at the edge of the street. When she finally made it to the office, she couldn’t shake the feeling of the morning's mishaps. Her mind kept slipping from one thought to another, unable to focus. In a meeting later that afternoon, she accidentally slipped up and mentioned a client’s private information. Everyone stared at her in disbelief, but fortunately, they brushed it off as a simple mistake. She sighed in relief but knew she'd have to be extra cautious from now on. As the day wore on, Anna found herself slipping into her usual habits, trying to forget about the morning's drama. But as she left the office, she couldn’t help but notice her colleague Ben slipping away unnoticed from the conversation they had been having earlier. He was always sneaky, slipping in and out of rooms like he owned the place. Anna wondered if anyone had noticed his quiet departure. By the end of the day, Anna was exhausted, but she’d learned something valuable: sometimes, it’s not just your feet that slip; your mind can too. And that’s when mistakes happen.
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