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Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

escape one's lips
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Alternative expressions(4)

was mentioned

be blurted out

be articulated

be expressed

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

"One could not escape one's life".

News & Media

Independent

"Trying to escape," one said.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"Brush" appears near "lips" when two characters' lips brush against each other or one's lips brush against another's cheek — as happens so often in novels.

News & Media

The New York Times - Books

That line is almost sure to escape Mr. Romney's lips, perhaps during an opening statement.

News & Media

The New York Times

For such admissions to escape my father's lips, they always had to be a little removed somehow.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Retrospectively, it seems stunning that it didn't die the moment it escaped someone's lips in a committee.

News & Media

The Guardian - Opinion

Other words that apparently have no meaning were the ones that escaped from Boehner's lips at the American Enterprise Institute when he said, "Let's let legislators legislate again".

News & Media

Huffington Post

I could hear it before the words even escaped my husband's lips.

News & Media

Huffington Post

Was that a sigh of relief escaping from Daniel's lips?

News & Media

The New York Times - Food

News & Media

Vice

Either way, Mr. Bush was careful not to let the word "evil" escape his lips, with one exception.

News & Media

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "escape one's lips" when you want to emphasize that a word or phrase was said unintentionally or almost involuntarily. It suggests a lack of conscious control over the utterance.

Common error

Avoid using "escape one's lips" in highly formal or technical writing. Opt for more direct and neutral alternatives like "was stated" or "was mentioned" to maintain a professional tone.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "escape one's lips" functions as an idiomatic expression. It describes the involuntary or unintentional utterance of words. Based on the provided examples from Ludwig, this expression is often used in narrative or descriptive contexts to add emphasis to the spontaneity or surprise of the utterance.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "escape one's lips" is an idiomatic way of describing words that are spoken unintentionally. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral to slightly informal tone. While grammatically correct, it's important to consider the context and choose more formal alternatives, such as "was uttered" or "was mentioned", in academic or business settings. The phrase emphasizes spontaneity and lack of conscious control over the utterance.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pass one's lips

A more literal way of saying something is spoken.

slip from one's tongue

Implies an unintentional utterance, similar to "escape one's lips", but focuses on the physical act of speaking.

find utterance

Indicates that something is finally being spoken, often after a period of silence or hesitation.

be uttered

A more formal and passive way of saying something is spoken.

be spoken

Similar to "be uttered", but slightly more common and less formal.

be voiced

A formal way of saying something is expressed or articulated.

come from one's mouth

A direct and simple way of indicating the origin of speech.

be blurted out

Suggests a sudden and unplanned utterance, often due to excitement or nervousness.

be articulated

Emphasizes the clarity and precision of the spoken words.

be expressed

A general term for conveying thoughts or feelings, not necessarily through speech.

FAQs

What does it mean when a word or phrase "escapes someone's lips"?

It means the word or phrase was spoken unintentionally or almost involuntarily. It suggests a lack of conscious control over what was said.

Is "escape one's lips" a formal or informal expression?

It leans towards a neutral to slightly informal register. While grammatically correct, it's more common in news articles, fiction, or casual conversation than in formal academic or business writing.

What are some alternatives to "escape one's lips" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "was uttered", "was spoken", or "was mentioned" to convey a similar meaning.

How can I use "escape one's lips" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe words or phrases that are said unintentionally, such as: "A sigh of relief escaped her lips when she heard the good news."

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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escape one's lipsGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

escape one's lips
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples