to slip (someone) a fiver
1
7.9
- phrasal verb
- UK
:
darle un billete de cinco
- Red slipped me a fiver for the strongbox.
Examples
-
She decided to slip her friend a fiver to help with his lunch.
-
He slipped the waiter a fiver to express his gratitude for the excellent service.
-
Before leaving, she quickly slipped him a fiver without anyone noticing.
Synonyms
699
2.8
To move or take something quietly so others do not notice
To give someone a little extra money for helping you
How Secret
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'slip' in the sense of covertly pass or give combined with 'a fiver' (a five‑pound/dollar note) yields 'give someone five pounds/dollars discreetly.' This follows a common verb + indirect object + direct object pattern and, aside from the colloquial/dialectal label 'fiver,' a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
The phrase slip (someone) a fiver comes from the image of quietly slipping a five-pound note, a fiver, into someone's hand or pocket so no one notices. That's why it means 'to give someone five pounds secretly'.