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slip-up

slip-up

13 3.7
A small careless mistake you make by accident
  • noun
  • /ˈslɪpˌʌp/
translation icon : error
  • You need to be careful; a small slip-up in your report could lead to serious problems.

Of course, that was just a little slip up.

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Examples

  • The only slip-up here was using the same name in two different newspapers.

    Blog text (7)
  • Jerry Hughes, officiating the Rams-Bears game Sunday, had a pretty harmless slip-up... but plenty of people noticed it anyway.

    Blog text (1)
  • A small slip-up is one thing.

  • Some kind of slip-up, I suppose.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Just forgive yourself for the slip-up and move on.

    Blog text (9)
  • All of you have trained for years, but one slip-up and it's all wasted.

  • I'm afraid there's been a slip up.

  • Nobody's perfect, and everybody has their own slip-ups in their relationships.

    Blog text (25)
  • We can't afford any slip-ups.

  • While Twitter can be a great marketing venue for businesses, a single slip-up can cause major PR nightmares.

    Blog text (17)

Synonyms

mistake
vsslip-up
1.0

A wrong action or decision

is narrower, meaning a small careless accidental error
slip
vsslip-up
79 1.6

A small mistake made by accident or carelessness

is the same idea expressed as a casual small careless error
mix-up
vsslip-up
53 3.3

A mistake that happens when someone confuses one thing with another

is a simple careless error rather than confusion between items
gaffe
vsslip-up
51 7.7

A remark or action made by accident that is embarrassing

is a general small careless mistake, not specifically social or public
trip
vsslip-up
  • Informal
50 3.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment

is a smaller, everyday careless error not always public
blunder
vsslip-up
49 3.0

A careless mistake that causes embarrassment or problems

is milder and usually causes fewer problems
misstep
vsslip-up
44 5.3

A small wrong action that causes embarrassment or harm to people's trust

is a casual small mistake not necessarily embarrassing
screw-up
vsslip-up
  • Informal
33 6.1

A careless mistake that causes problems or embarrassment

is a minor accident or slip without large consequences
oversight
vsslip-up
30 4.7

A small mistake that someone does not notice

is a small careless mistake not necessarily caused by overlooking things
stumble
vsslip-up
9 3.4

A small mistake that is often embarrassing

is smaller and implies less severity or drama
slip of the tongue
vsslip-up
  • Informal
7 3.7

A small mistake you make while speaking, like saying the wrong name

covers the same small error but applies to any action or writing
whoopsie
vsslip-up
  • Informal
7 8.2

A small playful mistake that is not serious

is the neutral label for a small careless accidental error
flub
vsslip-up
  • Informal
6 7.7

An embarrassing mistake made when someone is careless or nervous

is usually smaller and less focused on embarrassment
miscue
vsslip-up
4 7.7

A small unintentional mistake when speaking, writing, or performing an action

is the general casual term for such small careless errors
botch
vsslip-up
3 7.6

An embarrassing mistake that happens because of bad or careless work

is a small accidental error not implying poor workmanship
oopsie
vsslip-up
  • Informal
1 8.2

A small playful mistake that is not serious

is similar but uses neutral tone rather than playful language
pratfall
vsslip-up
1 8.7

An embarrassing mistake someone makes in public

is a private small careless error without public humiliation
slip of the pen
vsslip-up
  • Informal
3.8

A small mistake made when writing by accident

covers the same small error but applies to any action or speech
parapraxis
vsslip-up
  • Specialized
9.9

A small accidental mistake in speech, writing, or action that shows secret thoughts

is a simple careless error without implying hidden psychological meaning
trip-up
vsslip-up
6.5

A small mistake that causes embarrassment or trouble

is usually a small, personal careless error with less impact

Antonyms

169 3.8

How close a measurement or statement is to the correct value

How Serious

disaster
1.0
blunder
49 3.0
to mistake
37 1.0
slip-up
13 3.7

Surface Forms

slip-up singular
slip-ups plural

Morphology

slip-up = slip up (semi-transparent) = slip + up

The noun is built from the phrasal verb 'slip up', but the mistake sense is somewhat lexicalized and not fully compositional from the literal meanings of the parts.

Etymology

Slip-up comes from slip meaning 'to slide' or 'to make a small mistake' and up, which here shows that something went wrong; imagine slipping on a floor and making a small error, and you have a slip-up, a little, careless mistake.