let something slip: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘let something slip’ mean?
The idiom "let something slip" means to accidentally reveal or disclose something that was meant to be kept secret, hidden or confidential. It implies a lack of intention or control in revealing the information.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "spill the beans" means to reveal a secret or disclose confidential information unintentionally or deliberately.
The idiom "slip-up" refers to a mistake or an error made by someone, often unintentionally. It implies a momentary lapse in judgement or a failure to execute a task correctly.
Slip-up is a versatile idiom that encompasses various aspects of mistakes, errors, and blunders. It has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. Let's take a closer look at the two related idioms:
The idiom "slip up" means to make a mistake or error, often unintentionally, causing an oversight or blunder. It implies a momentary lapse of judgment or an uncharacteristic mistake. The phrase suggests a loss of control or balance, similar to someone slipping and falling.
The idiom "slip under the radar" means to go unnoticed or undetected, typically referring to someone or something avoiding scrutiny or attention.
The idiom "slip someone's mind" means someone forgetting something unintentionally or failing to remember something that was important.
The idiom "slip of the tongue" refers to an unintentional mistake or error made while speaking, such as saying the wrong word or mispronouncing something. It emphasizes the lack of control or accidental nature of the mistake.
The idiom "slip of the pen" means to make a mistake when writing something, usually by accidentally writing the wrong word, letter, or phrase.
Meaning: To enter or get into something or somewhere smoothly and quietly, often without being noticed or causing a disturbance.
The idiom "put a lid on it" means to stop talking or expressing oneself, usually in response to someone being too loud, argumentative, or revealing information that should be kept secret. It is a figurative expression urging someone to close their mouth or keep their thoughts to themselves.
The idiom "pray tell" is used to politely ask someone to provide information or share a secret or surprising fact.
The phrase "pray tell" is a combination of two words, "pray" and "tell", where "pray" means to make a request or ask earnestly, and "tell" means to communicate or reveal information. In this idiom, "pray" is used as an exclamatory expression, mainly to add emphasis to a question or request for information.
Deciphering the Enigma
let slip is a related idiom to let something slip. It means to unintentionally reveal or disclose information that was meant to be kept secret. When someone lets slip something, it is often seen as a careless action with unintended consequences. Similar to let something slip, this idiom implies a lack of discretion or control over one's words.
let on is another idiom related to let something slip. It means to reveal or disclose information, especially when it was intended to be kept secret. When someone lets on something, they are intentionally sharing information that others were not supposed to know. Unlike let something slip, this idiom suggests a deliberate action rather than an accidental disclosure.
slip someone's mind is a phrase related to let something slip that means to forget or fail to remember something. When something slips someone's mind, they unintentionally forget about it or fail to recall it. This phrase is often used to describe situations where someone forgets to do something or forgets important details. It is similar to let something slip in the sense that both involve unintentionally neglecting or disregarding something.
let slide is an idiom related to let something slip that means to overlook or ignore something. When someone lets something slide, they choose not to address or bring attention to it. This idiom is often used in the context of forgiving or tolerating a mistake or behavior without taking any action. It is similar to let something slip in the sense that both involve not giving something the attention or focus it deserves.
Overall, the idiom let something slip is commonly used to describe the unintentional disclosure or revelation of confidential information. It is often seen as a careless mistake or lapse in judgment, implying a lack of discretion or control over one's words. The related idioms let slip, let on, slip someone's mind, and let slide all have similar meanings or connotations. They involve the unintentional release of information, deliberate disclosure, forgetfulness, or the choice to overlook or ignore something. These idioms are all examples of how language can express different nuances and shades of meaning.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "let something slip" can be used in a sentence:
- She accidentally let slip that they were planning a surprise party for him.
- During the interview, he let slip some confidential information about the company.
- The detective questioned the suspect until he let slip the location of the hidden weapon.
More "Language" idioms
