slipped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slipped" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that has fallen or moved out of place, or to indicate a mistake or oversight. Example: "I slipped on the ice while walking to my car this morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Conservatives have slipped by one point to 34%.

The Guardian

Quotations from his books slipped into our daily speech whenever we wanted to appear clever: "Those were days when men were men"; "When a handshake goes beyond the elbow, then it has become something else".

The Guardian - Books

The chance to go top had slipped through their fingers, a reminder not to get too carried away.

The Guardian - Sport

And it's just slipped in – people think this is the way it works".

The Guardian

Doctor Who, which topped the festive iPlayer charts for the last two years, slipped to ninth spot with 1m requests during a nine-day period over Christmas, according to figures published by the BBC on Wednesday.

The Guardian

A 3-0 defeat at home against rivals Dundee was one of four defeats between the trip to Romania and prior to the New Year, as the team slipped five points behind leaders Celtic (in the days of two points for a win) and also dropped below Rangers into third.

The Guardian - Sport

He has hinted there may still be a story to tell about that and said in an interview with Lu Martín in El País in 2012, that his mindset momentarily changed, something slipped and it saddened him.

The Guardian - Sport

Moments later, Bywater appeared to have an easy collect from a Reading corner but the goalkeeper caught only air, and fortunately for him and his side, the ball slipped away to safety.

The Guardian - Sport

After recent rises, gold and silver prices slipped back, leaving Randgold Resources 204p lower at £46.27 and Mexican precious metals miner Fresnillo down 33p at 852p.

The Guardian - Business

"We're disappointed because it slipped away from us at home," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

Instead of becoming Britain's Pinochet, he slipped quietly into retirement, and in 1977 he became the first member of the royal family to appear on This Is Your Life.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gradual decline or unintentional mistake, "slipped" can add a nuanced touch, suggesting a subtle and perhaps unexpected change. For example, "The team's performance slipped in the second half."

Common error

While "slipped" is versatile, avoid overusing it in formal or academic writing where more precise language might be preferred. For instance, instead of "The findings slipped through the cracks", consider "The findings were overlooked".

Linguistic Context

The word "slipped" functions primarily as the past tense of the verb "slip". It describes an action that has already occurred, indicating a loss of balance, a mistake, or a subtle movement, as shown in examples from Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Sport

26%

Business

8%

Less common in

Travel

2%

Opinion

4%

Film

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slipped" is a versatile verb form, primarily used as the past tense of "slip", denoting unintentional movement, decline, or error. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news, sports, and business reporting. While generally neutral in register, it's essential to consider context and choose more precise language in formal settings. Alternative phrases like "slid", "stumbled", and "erred" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Use "slipped" to describe subtle changes or unintentional mistakes, but avoid overuse in highly formal or academic writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slid

Implies a smooth movement, similar to "slipped", often unintentionally.

lost footing

Specifically refers to losing balance, closely related to the literal meaning of "slipped".

stumbled

Suggests a loss of balance, similar to "slipped" in a physical context.

erred

Focuses on making a mistake, akin to "slipped" when referring to errors.

made a mistake

Highlights the act of making an error, similar to the metaphorical use of "slipped".

declined

Indicates a decrease or reduction, similar to "slipped" in describing a drop in rankings or performance.

faltered

Suggests a weakening or failing, similar to "slipped" when describing a loss of momentum.

regressed

Implies a return to a previous, usually worse, state; akin to "slipped" in describing a decline.

degenerated

Signals a decline in quality or condition, similar to "slipped" when indicating deterioration.

backslid

Indicates a relapse into bad habits or behavior, akin to "slipped" when referring to a moral or ethical lapse.

FAQs

What does it mean when something has "slipped"?

When something has "slipped", it means it has slid unintentionally, fallen from a position, or declined in quality or value. It can also refer to a small mistake or oversight.

What are some alternatives to saying something "slipped"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "slid", "stumbled", "erred", or "declined".

How can I use "slipped" in a sentence describing a mistake?

You can use "slipped" to indicate a minor error or oversight, such as: "A crucial detail "slipped" my mind during the presentation" or "An error "slipped" past the editor during the final review."

Which is correct, "the opportunity slipped away" or "the opportunity slid away"?

Both "the opportunity "slipped away"" and "the opportunity slid away" are correct, but they have slightly different connotations. "Slipped away" suggests a subtle, almost unnoticed loss, while "slid away" implies a smoother, more gradual disappearance. Therefore, it depends what the intended meaning is.