1 B1 neutral
To move physically beneath something
"She slipped the envelope under the door when no one was home."
inseparable
slip under
B2 neutral inseparable intransitive
To pass beneath something physically or to avoid notice, often in the phrase 'slip under the radar'
In plain English
To go under something, or to do something without people noticing
What does "slip under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To avoid being noticed or detected, especially in the phrase 'slip under the radar'
"The small tax change slipped under the radar and was barely reported in the press."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To slide beneath something
Actually means
To go under something, or to do something without people noticing
Usage tip
Most commonly encountered in the idiomatic phrase 'slip under the radar', meaning to go unnoticed. The literal sense (physically going under something) is less common as a phrasal verb.
Words that pair with "slip under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
radar door fence notice threshold wire
How to conjugate "slip under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
slip under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
slips under
he/she/it
Past simple
sliped under
yesterday
Past participle
sliped under
have + pp
-ing form
sliping under
continuous
Hear "slip under" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "slip under" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "slip under"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
avoid detection escape notice fly under the radar go unnoticed pass beneath
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