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Synonyms

slip-up

American  
[slip-uhp] / ˈslɪpˌʌp /

noun

  1. a mistake, blunder, or oversight.

    Several slip-ups caused a delay in the delivery of the books.
    Synonyms:
    bungle, lapse, error
slip up British  

verb

  1. informal to make a blunder or mistake; err

  2. to fall over

    he slipped up in the street
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal a mistake, blunder, or mishap

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
slip up Idioms  

  1. Make a mistake, blunder, as in I slipped up and gave the invitations to the wrong people. [Mid-1800s]

Etymology

Origin of slip-up

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase slip up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead, the bit reduced a palpable slight to just another funny slip-up.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

The authors suggest approaching each slip-up with curiosity rather than judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

Kihara said that he had been "feeling really down" and blamed himself for the slip-up, conceding: "We did not think we would win."

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

England are poised to profit on any slip-up by title favourites France after scoring 10 tries in a record Six Nations win over a dismal Wales at the Principality Stadium.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2025

“Noxzema is disgusting,” Maya said, ignoring Lauren’s slip-up.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.