slide across

USAGE SUMMARY

"slide across" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of something moving in a smooth, effortless manner in a particular direction, usually to the side. For example, "The cat silently slid across the floor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Evans will slide across to the middle.

The Guardian - Sport

Pearce will slide across and Miller go to left back.

The Guardian - Sport

The fingers began to stroke and slide across my skin.

The Guardian - Music

But before she can act on this thought, a man's hands slide across the table.

The New Yorker

"I saw him slide across home plate and take out the umpire," Manuel said of Beltrán.

The New York Times - Sports

The other nine candidates nodded sagely and let another sweet fat pitch slide across the plate.

The New York Times

Where else might one see a man slide across the floor on his head?

The New York Times - Arts

Kukushkin is solid, and he makes the young Australian run and slide across the grass surface.

The Guardian - Sport

The puck found the near-side bottom corner before Barrasso could slide across his crease.

The New York Times - Sports

Are the teeth driven into the bone, or do they slide across the surface?

The Guardian

He would drill them, directing them to slide across the court.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slide across" to describe a smooth, continuous movement over a surface, often with minimal effort or friction. For example, "The puck slid across the ice."

Common error

Avoid using "slide across" when a more specific verb like "glide", "slip", or "skate" would better convey the intended meaning. "Glide" implies a smoother, more graceful movement, while "slip" suggests a loss of control.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slide across" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, combining the verb "slide" with the preposition "across" to describe movement over a surface. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "slide across" is a versatile and commonly used expression for describing the motion of an object moving smoothly over a surface. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and finds application across diverse contexts, including news reporting, scientific explanations, and general descriptions. While "slide across" is generally neutral in tone, careful selection of synonyms like "glide over" or "slip across" can provide nuanced emphasis on the nature of the movement. Remember, "slide across" suggests a controlled motion, so choose your words carefully to convey the appropriate meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

glide over

Implies a smoother, more effortless movement than "slide across".

skate over

Suggests movement on a surface using skates or a similar means.

slip over

Implies a less controlled, potentially accidental movement.

move laterally

Describes movement to the side, emphasizing direction rather than manner.

shift sideways

Focuses on a change in position to the side.

drift across

Suggests a slow, gradual movement influenced by external forces.

sweep over

Implies a broad, encompassing movement across a surface.

traverse

Indicates a journey or movement across an area.

pass over

Suggests movement from one side to another, often implying a brief contact.

surface along

Describes movement along the surface of something, like water or ground.

FAQs

How can I use "slide across" in a sentence?

You can use "slide across" to describe movement over a surface. For example, "The coins "slide across" the table" or "The dancer made the difficult step look easy as she "slide across" the stage".

What's a good alternative to "slide across"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "glide over", "slip over", or "move laterally".

Is it ever incorrect to use "slide across"?

While generally correct, "slide across" might not be the best choice if you want to emphasize a lack of control (use "slip over" instead) or a very smooth, graceful motion (use "glide over").

What is the difference between ""slide across"" and "slip across"?

"Slide across" suggests a controlled movement, while "slip across" indicates a loss of traction or control during the movement.