slippery slope

American  

noun

slippery slopes plural

1. a dangerous and irreversible course.

   the slippery slope from narcotics to prison.

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slippery slope Idioms  

1. 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]

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• slippery slopes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of slippery slope

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

But letting the popularity of an activity determine its legality is a slippery slope.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Admittedly, answering emails on the weekend can be a slippery slope.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

Workers say that could be the first step down a slippery slope that leads to layoffs and damage to patient health.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

For others, keeping secrets at all feels like a slippery slope.

From Slate • Sep. 10, 2025

Jenna asks, panting with the effort to keep her footing on the slippery slope.

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass