almost slip

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost slip" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone nearly loses their balance or makes a mistake but manages to avoid it. Example: "As I was walking on the icy sidewalk, I had an almost slip but quickly regained my balance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

There are years ahead of them, but both have seen it almost slip away.

The New York Times - Sports

Indeed, its title and key concept – that underdogs  actually have surprising advantages over favourites – are so perfectly Gladwellian that they almost slip into parody.

Independent

Her performance on Wednesday was polished and all but flawless — although she did almost slip when she tried to describe her husband's easygoing personality and said what some in the audience heard as "sweet and pathetic".

The New York Times

This is actually called the four-part cast, the basic cast of fly-fishing, and I am so transfixed by the simple beauty of his performance and so eager to replicate it on my own that I almost slip off the slick dock and into the shallow pool when we are instructed to raise our own rods and give it a try.

The New York Times - Travel

But in L.A. I didn't stop to take pictures of llamas, and I didn't almost slip down a cliff while dodging a bull.

Los Angeles Times

Gutting the fish became a real comedy of errors with Heimo getting a direct spray of Grayling shit in his mouth and Thomas letting his almost slip away.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It almost slipped from her hands.

The New Yorker

Whoops, my hand almost slipped!

The Guardian - Books

DC almost slipped with his razor.

The Guardian - Opinion

And yet, it almost slipped away.

The New York Times - Sports

When Sanders was pressed for an explanation, he almost slipped.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost slip" to describe situations where someone nearly loses balance, makes a mistake, or faces a near-miss, but manages to recover or avoid the negative outcome. It adds a sense of immediacy and potential danger to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "almost slip" in highly abstract or figurative contexts where the idea of a literal slip doesn't translate well. Stick to scenarios involving balance, physical missteps, or situations with clear potential for failure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost slip" functions as a descriptive phrase. Ludwig AI states that It describes a situation where someone nearly loses their balance or makes a mistake but manages to avoid it. As shown by Ludwig, it is often used as a modifier describing a near miss or close call.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Sports

29%

Travel

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost slip" is a descriptive phrase used to convey a near-miss or close call, typically involving a loss of balance or a potential error. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and travel writing. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where the concept of a literal "slip" is relevant. Related phrases like "nearly stumble" or "narrowly escape a fall" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. Remember to use "almost slip" to add vividness and tension to your writing, but avoid overuse in highly abstract contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly stumble

Focuses more on the physical act of almost losing balance.

barely avoid falling

Highlights the action taken to prevent a fall.

narrowly escape a fall

Emphasizes the avoidance of a negative outcome.

close to losing footing

Describes the precariousness of one's balance.

on the verge of slipping

Suggests being at the very edge of losing control.

nearly lose grip

Applicable when referring to holding onto something, not necessarily physical balance.

almost falter

More general, applicable to situations beyond physical slips, like mistakes.

had a near fall

Past tense emphasizing the event of almost falling

close call

A broader phrase that indicates a near-miss situation not only about physical slips.

nearly fail

Describes a near miss in terms of success or achievement

FAQs

How can I use "almost slip" in a sentence?

You can use "almost slip" to describe a situation where someone nearly loses their balance. For example, "I was walking on the ice and I did "almost slip" but I caught myself."

What's a more formal alternative to "almost slip"?

In a more formal context, you could use phrases like "nearly stumbled" or "barely avoided a fall" to convey a similar meaning while maintaining a professional tone.

Is it correct to say "almost slipped" instead of "almost slip"?

Yes, "almost slipped" is the past tense form and is correct when describing something that nearly happened in the past. "Almost slip" is used in present tense or hypothetical situations.

What's the difference between "almost slip" and "almost fall"?

"Almost slip" suggests a loss of footing or balance, while "almost fall" implies a more significant loss of control and a greater potential for injury. They both describe near misses, but the degree of the potential incident differs.