to give the slip
9
6.9
- phrasal verb
- Informal
:
escabullirse
- While they were distracted, she managed to give them the slip and escape unnoticed.
- gave the bad guys the slip
- try to give them the slip
- think we gave Zorgazilla the slip
Examples
-
"Hardy tells me she tried to give your guys the slip."
Fiction book (1997) -
She still almost gave us the slip.
Fiction book (1997) -
I thought you said you gave them the slip.
-
Looks like they gave us the slip, huh, Boss?
-
I think we gave him the slip.
-
I got him out, gave them the slip.
-
" Nobody lets me walk on my own, but I gave them the slip this time."
Fiction book (2002) -
Check in every five minutes and let's hope she doesn't give us the slip.
Fiction book (1997) -
They chased us all the way to the river, but we finally managed to give 'em the slip.
-
His heart pounding, Harry heads towards the stables, trying to give him the slip.
Fiction book (2002)
Synonyms
699
2.8
To move or take something quietly so others do not notice
125
3.7
To leave a place quietly so no one notices you
58
4.2
Pass through something so it is not noticed or stopped
39
3.8
To leave a place quietly without anyone noticing
33
4.0
Leave a place quietly so others do not notice
32
3.4
To leave a place quietly without anyone noticing
17
3.6
To leave a place quietly without being noticed
12
7.2
To leave a place quickly and quietly to avoid something you should do
11
3.8
To go past quickly without anyone noticing, as with time or chances
4
6.3
To leave a meeting or party quietly so no one notices
1
6.3
To go unnoticed by people or officials
1
7.9
To move sideways past someone quietly without being noticed
Antonyms
How Elusive
Surface Forms
Morphology
give + the + slip
The notion of 'slip' (to slide away) combined with 'give' (to allow or cause) provides a plausible metaphorical basis for 'escaping someone', so a learner who knows the words may infer a general sense. However, the fixed idiomatic construction 'give someone the slip' and its transitive pattern are not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it requires some exposure to be reliably understood.
Etymology
Give the slip may come from the simple image of slip meaning 'to slide away'. Imagine a person quietly moving out of a crowd while the follower still looks — that's why it means 'to escape or evade someone'.