Give the slip

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Meaning

To escape or dodge someone slyly, slipping away unnoticed.

Origin

From 16th-century England, tied to hunting; dogs 'slipped' leads to run, as in a 1567 text on hounds. By 1680, it hit humans, as in a Defoe 1722 tale of a thief's slip.

Variants

  • Give a slip

Usage Examples

  • She gave the paparazzi the slip at the back door.
  • He gave the chores the slip and napped.
  • They gave the cops the slip in the alley.

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