to slip under the radar
1
6.3
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
pasar desapercibido
- While preparing the report, some minor errors slipped under the radar and went unnoticed.
And so a lot of stuff slips under the radar that way.
- And so a lot of stuff slips under the radar that way.
Examples
-
While their straight friends and siblings can hope to fall in love and have their most important partnerships lifted up, celebrated, and supported by the community, the best that sexual minorities can hope for is to slip under the radar, unnoticed by those who would call their loving partnerships an abomination.
Academic text (2011) -
That commission was meant to slip under the radar to some extent.
Blog text (4) -
The ability to slip under the radar is not one of them.
Blog text (10) -
And so a lot of stuff slips under the radar that way.
-
Maybe you did, but since I can't tell Eve from Abbey from Pauline, it probably slipped under the radar.
Blog text (24) -
In principle, of course they should be, but the reality will be that they are hostage to day-to-day operational pressures where, all too easily, an absent employee can slip under the radar.
Academic text (2014) -
Surely, though, you as an editor should be quite familiar with those mistakes, either yours or others, that slip under the radar because you've viewed the exact same thing so many times that a little thing like a repeated letter just doesn't merit your attention anymore.
Blog text (2) -
I am actually quite surprised at how many of her (and others') comments slip under the radar of the moderation policy on this website, which strictly forbids blatant inflammatory attacks against other posters.
Blog text (10) -
Many talented artists slip under the radar and never get the recognition they deserve.
-
Several important details can easily slip under the radar during long meetings.
Synonyms
58
4.2
Pass through something so it is not noticed or stopped
36
3.9
Act quietly so people do not notice you
14
5.6
To stay out of sight to avoid trouble
11
3.8
To go past quickly without anyone noticing, as with time or chances
9
5.9
To avoid being noticed by other people
2
7.4
Not get noticed or dealt with
1
7.5
To stop being seen or heard from by others
To stop being noticed or thought about by someone
Antonyms
How Noticeable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase combines literal senses — 'slip' (move quietly/secretly), 'under' (below), and 'radar' (a detection system) — to create a clear metaphorical image of moving below detection. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer 'to go unnoticed or undetected' without prior exposure, so the expression is compositionally transparent.
Etymology
The phrase slip under the radar comes from the image of something that slips under a ship or plane's radar, so the radar does not see it. That's why today it means 'to go unnoticed' or 'to avoid attention'.