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slip by

B1 neutral inseparable intransitive

In simple words

Pass by without being noticed or without being stopped.

Literal meaning: To slip (move smoothly) past or by something — partially transparent.

Meanings

1 B1 idiomatic neutral

very common

Of time: to pass more quickly than expected or without being fully noticed.

"I can't believe it's December already — this year has really slipped by."

Grammar: inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

Of an error, opportunity, or detail: to go unnoticed or to pass without being acted upon.

"Several factual errors slipped by the proofreader in the first edition."

Grammar: inseparable

3 B1 neutral

common

Of a person: to move past someone or through a space without being noticed or stopped.

"He managed to slip by the security guard while he was distracted."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

Used both physically (a person slipping by unnoticed) and figuratively (time, errors, or opportunities slipping by). In journalism, often used about mistakes that weren't caught by editors or facts that were overlooked. A very versatile and common phrasal verb.

Commonly used with

time years chance mistake error deadline

Forms

Base

slip by

I/you/we/they

3rd person

slips by

he/she/it

Past simple

sliped by

yesterday

Past participle

sliped by

have + pp

-ing form

sliping by

continuous

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