slip-up
noun
a mistake, blunder, or oversight.
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slip-up
American
[slip-uhp]
/ ˈslɪpˌʌp /
noun
slip up
British
verb
-
informal to make a blunder or mistake; err
-
to fall over
he slipped up in the street
noun
slip up
Idioms
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.
See Examples For:
Mrs. Biden mentions that episode as if it were a minor slip-up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
The authors suggest approaching each slip-up with curiosity rather than judgment.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
Pakistan should also progress to the Super Eights in second place, barring a slip-up against the Netherlands, Namibia or the USA, who make up the five-team group.
From Barron's ● Feb. 3, 2026
"We will be uncompromising and relentless," Retailleau warned, adding that he had given police instructions to make arrests "as soon as there is the slightest slip-up".
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2025
“Noxzema is disgusting,” Maya said, ignoring Lauren’s slip-up.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
“No question I’m going to slip up at some point,” said Craig Schlenoff, who leads NIST’s AI research, measurement and standards division.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Your mother may rightly feel that, based on experience, people are waiting for her to slip up.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 22, 2026
Before filing arrest warrants, Johnson likes to contact alleged fraudsters to see if panic will make them slip up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I still think that Arsenal will win the Premier League. I think they have the easier fixtures, and Man City will slip up in theirs."
From BBC ● Apr. 19, 2026
I knew she was too quick to miss that slip up, and something told me I was going to pay for it.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
