slippery slope

noun

1. a dangerous and irreversible course.

   the slippery slope from narcotics to prison.

Word History and Origins

Origin of slippery slope¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Idioms and Phrases

A dangerous course, one that leads easily to catastrophe, as in He's on a slippery slope, compromising his values to please both the bosses and the union. This metaphoric expression alludes to traversing a slick hillside, in constant danger of falling. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

Changing the messaging on safe sleep would be a “slippery slope,” said Deanne Tilton Durfee, executive director of the Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, which runs L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The tax proposal, said campaign strategist Dan Newman, “opens up a can of worms sliding down a slippery slope by taxing cars, houses, wheelbarrows and everything else.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

California Republicans have called the effort misguided, arguing that the retaliatory response creates a slippery slope that would erode the independent redistricting process California voters have chosen twice at the ballot box.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

So Roz carefully picked her way up the slippery slope, while Brightbill fluttered along beside her.

Read more on Literature

While the contents of the agreements weren’t egregious, I, and many others, were worried to see them signed: Accepting government influence in academic institutions is a slippery slope.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal