1 B1 neutral
To enter a place quietly or without being noticed
"She slipped in through the back door before the meeting started."
inseparable
slip in
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To enter a place quietly or to include something briefly without drawing attention
In plain English
To go somewhere quietly without anyone noticing, or to add something small into something else
What does "slip in" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To add a comment, question, or piece of information briefly and unobtrusively
"He managed to slip in a question about the salary before the interview ended."
separable
3 B1 informal
To arrive at an event or location late or unobtrusively, often hoping no one notices
"The student slipped in at the back of the lecture hall twenty minutes late."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To slide into a space
Actually means
To go somewhere quietly without anyone noticing, or to add something small into something else
Usage tip
When used transitively (slip something in), it often refers to adding a remark or piece of information unobtrusively. Common in both British and American English.
Words that pair with "slip in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
comment remark question word joke reference
How to conjugate "slip in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slip in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slips in
he/she/it
Past simple
sliped in
yesterday
Past participle
sliped in
have + pp
-ing form
sliping in
continuous
Hear "slip in" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "slip in" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "slip in"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.