Slide vs. Slip: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 18, 2023
"Slide" means to move smoothly along a surface, while "slip" implies a sudden, accidental sliding.
Key Differences
"Slide" generally refers to a smooth, continuous movement along a surface, often controlled or deliberate, like a child going down a slide; "slip," however, often refers to an accidental loss of balance or footing, resulting in an unintended and sometimes dangerous movement.
In a "slide," the movement is typically horizontal or along a plane, and can be either natural or forced, such as moving a piece of furniture across the floor; a "slip" is usually very sudden, often vertical, and is not controlled, like stepping on ice and losing one's balance.
The verb "slide" can also imply a gradual, unnoticeable change over time, like standards sliding downwards; "slip" in a similar context would imply a sudden, perhaps immediate lapse, like someone's memory slipping.
In sports, a "slide" is often a strategic move, such as a baseball player sliding into a base, indicating a purposeful action; conversely, an athlete who "slips" during a game might do so due to an unexpected obstacle or surface condition, indicating an accidental action.
"Slide" also has technical meanings, like in music, where it refers to a gliding transition from one pitch to another, or in photography, where it refers to a small piece of film in a frame; "slip" doesn't usually carry such technical connotations, but it can refer to specific phenomena in various fields, like "slip" in geology referring to the displacement along a fault.
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Comparison Chart
Control
Often deliberate or controlled
Usually accidental and uncontrolled
Direction of Movement
Generally horizontal or along a plane
Often sudden and can be vertical
Contextual Use
Implies a smooth or gradual change
Indicates a sudden lapse or loss
Usage in Sports
Can be a strategic, purposeful action
An unintended incident due to conditions
Technical Meanings
Used in various fields with specific uses
Specific phenomena in different fields
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Slide and Slip Definitions
Slide
To move smoothly along a continuous surface.
The children love to slide down the snowy hill on their sleds.
Slip
To slide unintentionally causing one to lose their balance.
He slipped on the wet floor and fell.
Slide
A decline in condition, quality, or standard.
The company's profits began to slide during the third quarter.
Slip
To go or move quietly or quickly, without attracting notice.
He managed to slip away from the party without anyone noticing.
Slide
A smooth, uninterrupted movement in music from one note to another.
The trombonist executed a perfect slide from one note to the next.
Slip
To move smoothly, easily, and quietly
Slipped into bed.
Slide
A piece of playground equipment that children slide down.
The park has a new slide that all the kids enjoy.
Slip
To move stealthily; steal
Slipped out the back door.
Slide
To move over a surface while maintaining smooth continuous contact.
Slip
To escape, as from a grasp, fastening, or restraint
Slipped out of the wrestler's hold.
Slide
To participate in a sport that involves such movement
Sliding for a medal in luge.
Slip
To put on or remove a piece of clothing smoothly or quietly
Slipped into a nightgown.
Slipped out of the shirt.
Slide
To lose a secure footing or positioning; slip
Slid on the ice and fell.
Slip
To slide involuntarily and lose one's balance or foothold.
Slide
To pass smoothly and quietly; glide
Slid past the door without anyone noticing.
Slip
To move accidentally out of place or fail to gain traction
The gear slipped.
Slide
(Baseball) To drop down from a running into a lying or diving position when approaching a base so as to avoid being tagged out.
Slip
To pass gradually, easily, or imperceptibly into a different state
He slipped into a coma.
Slide
To be ignored or not dealt with; drop
Let the matter slide.
Slip
To decline from a former or standard level; fall off
The senator's popularity has slipped.
Slide
To decrease
Prices slid in morning trading.
Slip
To elapse, especially quickly or without notice
The days slipped by.
Slide
To become less favorable or less desirable
Economic conditions have begun to slide.
Slip
To fall into fault or error. Often used with up.
Slide
To cause to slide or slip
Slid the glass down to the other end of the counter.
Slip
To place or insert smoothly and quietly
She slipped the letter into her pocket.
Slide
To place covertly or deftly
Slid the stolen merchandise into his pocket.
Slip
To insert (a remark, for example) unobtrusively
Managed to slip his criticisms in before the end of the meeting.
Slide
A sliding movement or action.
Slip
To put on or remove (clothing) easily or quickly
Slip on a sweater.
Slipped off her shoes.
Slide
A smooth, usually inclined surface or track for sliding
A water slide.
Slip
To get loose or free from; elude
Slipped his pursuers.
Slide
A playground apparatus for children to slide on, typically consisting of a smooth chute climbed onto by means of a ladder.
Slip
To fail to be remembered by
Her name slips my memory.
Slide
A part that operates by sliding, as the U-shaped section of tube on a trombone that is moved to change the pitch.
Slip
To release, loose, or unfasten
Slip a knot.
Slide
A period of decline or loss
"The semiconductor industry is heading for a cyclical slide" (New York Times).
Slip
To unleash or free (a dog or hawk) to pursue game.
Slide
An image on a transparent base for projection on a screen.
Slip
To give birth to prematurely. Used of animals.
Slide
One of a series of images projected digitally as part of a presentation.
Slip
To dislocate (a bone).
Slide
A small glass plate for mounting specimens to be examined under a microscope.
Slip
To pass (a knitting stitch) from one needle to another without knitting it.
Slide
A fall of a mass of rock, earth, or snow down a slope; an avalanche or landslide.
Slip
To make a slip from (a plant or plant part).
Slide
A backless shoe with an open toe.
Slip
The act or an instance of slipping or sliding.
Slide
A slight portamento used in violin playing, passing quickly from one note to another.
Slip
An accident or mishap, especially resulting in a fall.
Slide
An ornamentation consisting of two grace notes approaching the main note.
Slip
An error in conduct or thinking; a mistake.
Slide
A small metal or glass tube worn over a finger or held in the hand, used in playing bottleneck-style guitar.
Slip
A slight error or oversight, as in speech or writing
A slip of the tongue.
Slide
The bottleneck style of guitar playing.
Slip
A docking place for a ship between two piers.
Slide
(ergative) To (cause to) move in continuous contact with a surface.
He slid the boat across the grass.
The safe slid slowly.
Snow slides down the side of a mountain.
Slip
A slipway.
Slide
(intransitive) To move on a low-friction surface.
The car slid on the ice.
Slip
(Nautical) The difference between a vessel's actual speed through water and the speed at which the vessel would move if the screw were propelling against a solid.
Slide
To drop down and skid into a base.
Jones slid into second.
Slip
A woman's undergarment of dress length with shoulder straps.
Slide
(intransitive) To lose one’s balance on a slippery surface.
He slid while going around the corner.
Slip
A half-slip.
Slide
(transitive) To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip.
To alter the meaning of a question by sliding in a word
Schoolchildren sometimes slide each other notes during class.
Slip
A pillowcase.
Slide
(transitive) To subtly direct a facial expression at (someone).
He slid me a dirty look.
Slip
A smooth crack at which rock strata have moved on each other.
Slide
To pass inadvertently.
Slip
A small fault.
Slide
(intransitive) To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance.
A ship or boat slides through the water.
Slip
The relative displacement of formerly adjacent points on opposite sides of a fault.
Slide
To decrease in amount or value.
The stock market slid yesterday after major stocks released weak quarterly results.
Slip
The difference between optimal and actual output in a mechanical device.
Slide
(music) To smoothly pass from one note to another by bending the pitch upwards or downwards.
Slip
Movement between two parts where none should exist, as between a pulley and a belt.
Slide
(regional) To ride down snowy hills upon a toboggan or similar object for recreation.
Slip
A sideways movement of an airplane when banked too far.
Slide
To go; to move from one place or to another.
Slip
A part of a plant cut or broken off for grafting or planting; a scion or cutting.
Slide
(soccer) To kick so that the ball slides along the ground with little or no turning.
Slip
A long narrow piece; a strip.
Slide
An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.
The long, red slide was great fun for the kids.
Slip
A slender youthful person
A slip of a child.
Slide
A surface of ice, snow, butter, etc. on which someone can slide for amusement or as a practical joke.
Slip
A small piece of paper, especially a small form, document, or receipt
A deposit slip.
Slide
The falling of large amounts of rubble, earth and stones down the slope of a hill or mountain; avalanche.
The slide closed the highway.
Slip
A narrow pew in a church.
Slide
An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, especially one constructed on a mountainside for conveying logs by sliding them down.
Slip
Thinned potter's clay used for decorating or coating ceramics.
Slide
A mechanism consisting of a part which slides on or against a guide.
Slip
(intransitive) To lose one’s traction on a slippery surface; to slide due to a lack of friction.
Slide
The act of sliding; smooth, even passage or progress.
A slide on the ice
Slip
(intransitive) To err.
Slide
A lever that can be moved in two directions.
Slip
(intransitive) To accidentally reveal a secret or otherwise say something unintentional.
Slide
A valve that works by sliding, such as in a trombone.
Slip
(intransitive) To move or fly (out of place); to shoot; often with out, off, etc.
A bone may slip out of place.
Slide
(photography) A transparent plate bearing an image to be projected to a screen.
Slip
(transitive) To pass (a note, money, etc.), often covertly.
She thanked the porter and slipped a ten-dollar bill into his hand.
Slide
A page of a computer presentation package such as PowerPoint.
I still need to prepare some slides for my presentation tomorrow.
Slip
(transitive) To cause to move smoothly and quickly; to slide; to convey gently or secretly.
Slide
(sciences) A flat, usually rectangular piece of glass or similar material on which a prepared sample may be viewed through a microscope Generally referred to as a microscope slide.
Slip
(intransitive) To move quickly and often secretively; to depart, withdraw, enter, appear, intrude, or escape as if by sliding.
Some errors slipped into the appendix.
Slide
(baseball) The act of dropping down and skidding into a base
Slip
To move down; to slide.
Profits have slipped over the past six months.
Slide
A hand-held device made of smooth, hard material, used in the practice of slide guitar.
Slip
To release (a dog, a bird of prey, etc.) to go after a quarry.
Slide
A lively dance from County Kerry, in 12/8 time.
Slip
Clipping of sideslip: To fly with the longitudinal axis misaligned with the relative wind.
Slide
(geology) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
Slip
To remove the skin of a soft fruit, such as a tomato or peach, by blanching briefly in boiling water, then transferring to cold water so that the skin peels, or slips, off easily.
Slide
(music) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
Slip
(obsolete) To omit; to lose by negligence.
Slide
(phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
Slip
(transitive) To cut slips from; to cut; to take off; to make a slip or slips of.
To slip a piece of cloth or paper
Slide
A clasp or brooch for a belt, etc.
Slip
(transitive) To cause to slip or slide off, or out of place.
A horse slips his bridle; a dog slips his collar.
Slide
A pocket in one's pants (trousers).
With ten dollars in his slide
Slip
To bring forth (young) prematurely; to slink.
Slide
(footwear) A shoe that is backless and open-toed.
Slip
To cause (a schedule or release, etc.) to go, or let it go, beyond the allotted deadline.
Slide
(speech therapy) A voluntary stutter used as a technique to control stuttering in one's speech.
Slip
An act or instance of slipping.
I had a slip on the ice and bruised my hip.
Slide
A promiscuous woman, slut.
Slip
A woman's undergarment worn under a skirt or dress to conceal unwanted nudity that may otherwise be revealed by the skirt or dress itself; a shift.
Slide
To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.
Slip
A slipdress.
Slide
Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet.
They bathe in summer, and in winter slide.
Slip
A mistake or error.
A slip of the tongue
Slide
To pass inadvertently.
Beware thou slide not by it.
Slip
(nautical) A berth; a space for a ship to moor.
Slide
To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water.
Ages shall slide away without perceiving.
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
Slip
(nautical) A difference between the theoretical distance traveled per revolution of the propeller and the actual advance of the vessel.
Slide
To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
Their foot shall slide in due time.
Slip
(nautical) A slipway.
Slide
To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
Slip
(medicine) A one-time return to previous maladaptive behaviour after cure.
Slide
To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence.
With good hope let he sorrow slide.
With a calm carelessness letting everything slide.
Slip
(cricket) Any of several fielding positions to the off side of the wicket keeper, designed to catch the ball after being deflected from the bat; a fielder in that position (See first slip, second slip, third slip, fourth slip and fifth slip.)
Slide
To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.
Slip
A number between 0 and 1 that is the difference between the angular speed of a rotating magnetic field and the angular speed of its rotor, divided by the angular speed of the magnetic field.
Slide
To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.
Slip
A leash or string by which a dog is held; so called from its being made in such a manner as to slip, or become loose, by relaxation of the hand.
Slide
The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.
Slip
An escape; a secret or unexpected desertion.
He gave the warden the slip and escaped from the prison.
Slide
Smooth, even passage or progress.
A better slide into their business.
Slip
(aviation) sideslip
Slide
That on which anything moves by sliding.
Slip
A portion of the columns of a newspaper etc. struck off by itself; a proof from a column of type when set up and in the galley.
Slide
That which operates by sliding.
Slip
(dated) A child's pinafore.
Slide
A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.
Slip
An outside covering or case.
A pillow slip
The slip or sheath of a sword
Slide
The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.
Slip
(obsolete) A counterfeit piece of money, made from brass covered with silver.
Slide
A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
Slip
Matter found in troughs of grindstones after the grinding of edge tools.
Slide
A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
Slip
A particular quantity of yarn.
Slide
A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
Slip
A narrow passage between buildings.
Slide
Same as Guide bar, under Guide.
Slip
(US) A long seat or narrow pew in churches, often without a door.
Slide
A small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
Slip
(mining) A dislocation of a lead, destroying continuity.
Slide
(geology) the descent of a large mass of earth or rocks or snow etc.
Slip
(engineering) The motion of the centre of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the water horizontally, or the difference between a vessel's actual speed and the speed it would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also, the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.
Slide
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale;
The violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides
Slip
(electrical) The difference between the actual and synchronous speeds of an induction motor.
Slide
Plaything consisting of a sloping chute down which children can slide
Slip
(telecommunications) The positional displacement in a sequence of transmitted symbols that causes the loss or insertion of one or more symbols.
Slide
The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;
His slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill
The children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope
Slip
A fish, the sole.
Slide
A transparency mounted in a frame; viewed with a slide projector
Slip
A twig or shoot; a cutting.
A slip from a vine
Slide
Sloping channel through which things can descend
Slip
(obsolete) A descendant, a scion.
Slide
Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner;
The wheels skidded against the sidewalk
Slip
A young person (now usually with of introducing descriptive qualifier).
She couldn't hurt a fly, young slip of a girl that she is.
Slide
To pass or move unobtrusively or smoothly;
They slid through the wicket in the big gate
Slip
A long, thin piece of something.
Slide
Move smoothly along a surface;
He slid the money over to the other gambler
Slip
A small piece of paper, especially one longer than it is wide, typically a form for writing on or one giving printed information.
A salary slip
Slide
A transparent image on a piece of film, viewed by projecting light through it.
The professor showed a slide of the artwork during her lecture.
Slip
(marine insurance) A memorandum of the particulars of a risk for which a policy is to be executed. It usually bears the broker's name and is initiated by the underwriters.
Slip
(ceramics) A thin, slippery mix of clay and water.
Slip
(obsolete) Mud, slime.
Slip
To move along the surface of a thing without bounding, rolling, or stepping; to slide; to glide.
Slip
To slide; to lose one's footing or one's hold; not to tread firmly; as, it is necessary to walk carefully lest the foot should slip.
Slip
To move or fly (out of place); to shoot; - often with out, off, etc.; as, a bone may slip out of its place.
Slip
To depart, withdraw, enter, appear, intrude, or escape as if by sliding; to go or come in a quiet, furtive manner; as, some errors slipped into the work.
Thus one tradesman slips away,To give his partner fairer play.
Thrice the flitting shadow slipped away.
Slip
To err; to fall into error or fault.
There is one that slippeth in his speech, but not from his heart.
Cry, "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war.
Slip
To cause to move smoothly and quickly; to slide; to convey gently or secretly.
He tried to slip a powder into her drink.
Slip
To omit; to loose by negligence.
And slip no advantageThat my secure you.
Slip
To cut slips from; to cut; to take off; to make a slip or slips of; as, to slip a piece of cloth or paper.
The branches also may be slipped and planted.
Slip
To let loose in pursuit of game, as a greyhound.
Lucento slipped me like his greyhound.
Slip
To cause to slip or slide off, or out of place; as, a horse slips his bridle; a dog slips his collar.
Slip
To bring forth (young) prematurely; to slink.
Slip
The act of slipping; as, a slip on the ice.
Slip
An unintentional error or fault; a false step.
This good man's slip mended his pace to martyrdom.
Slip
A twig separated from the main stock; a cutting; a scion; hence, a descendant; as, a slip from a vine.
A native slip to us from foreign seeds.
The girlish slip of a Sicilian bride.
Slip
A slender piece; a strip; as, a slip of paper.
Moonlit slips of silver cloud.
A thin slip of a girl, like a new moonSure to be rounded into beauty soon.
Slip
A leash or string by which a dog is held; - so called from its being made in such a manner as to slip, or become loose, by relaxation of the hand.
We stalked over the extensive plains with Killbuck and Lena in the slips, in search of deer.
Slip
An escape; a secret or unexpected desertion; as, to give one the slip.
Slip
A portion of the columns of a newspaper or other work struck off by itself; a proof from a column of type when set up and in the galley.
Slip
Any covering easily slipped on.
Slip
A counterfeit piece of money, being brass covered with silver.
Slip
Matter found in troughs of grindstones after the grinding of edge tools.
Slip
Potter's clay in a very liquid state, used for the decoration of ceramic ware, and also as a cement for handles and other applied parts.
Slip
A particular quantity of yarn.
Slip
An inclined plane on which a vessel is built, or upon which it is hauled for repair.
Slip
An opening or space for vessels to lie in, between wharves or in a dock; as, Peck slip.
Slip
A narrow passage between buildings.
Slip
A long seat or narrow pew in churches, often without a door.
Slip
A dislocation of a lead, destroying continuity.
Slip
The motion of the center of resistance of the float of a paddle wheel, or the blade of an oar, through the water horozontally, or the difference between a vessel's actual speed and the speed which she would have if the propelling instrument acted upon a solid; also, the velocity, relatively to still water, of the backward current of water produced by the propeller.
Slip
A fish, the sole.
Slip
A fielder stationed on the off side and to the rear of the batsman. There are usually two of them, called respectively short slip, and long slip.
Slip
The retrograde movement on a pulley of a belt as it slips.
Slip
The difference between the actual and synchronous speed of an induction motor.
Slip
A memorandum of the particulars of a risk for which a policy is to be executed. It usually bears the broker's name and is initiated by the underwrites.
Slip
A socially awkward or tactless act
Slip
A minor inadvertent mistake usually observed in speech or writing or in small accidents or memory lapses etc.
Slip
Potter's clay that is thinned and used for coating or decorating ceramics
Slip
A part (sometimes a root or leaf or bud) removed from a plant to propagate a new plant through rooting or grafting
Slip
A young and slender person;
He's a mere slip of a lad
Slip
A place where a craft can be made fast
Slip
An accidental misstep threatening (or causing) a fall;
He blamed his slip on the ice
The jolt caused many slips and a few spills
Slip
A slippery smoothness;
He could feel the slickness of the tiller
Slip
Artifact consisting of a narrow flat piece of material
Slip
A small sheet of paper;
A receipt slip
Slip
A woman's sleeveless undergarment
Slip
Bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow;
The burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase
Slip
An unexpected slide
Slip
A flight maneuver; aircraft slides sideways in the air
Slip
The act of avoiding capture (especially by cunning)
Slip
Move stealthily;
The ship slipped away in the darkness
Slip
Insert inconspicuously or quickly or quietly;
He slipped some money into the waiter's hand
Slip
Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner;
The wheels skidded against the sidewalk
Slip
Get worse;
My grades are slipping
Slip
Move smoothly and easily
Slip
To make a mistake or be incorrect
Slip
Pass on stealthily;
He slipped me the key when nobody was looking
Slip
Pass out of one's memory
Slip
Move out of position;
Dislocate joints
The artificial hip joint luxated and had to be put back surgically
Slip
A small mistake or error.
She made a slip during her presentation.
Slip
A decline in an amount, quality, or degree.
Her grades began to slip last semester.
Slip
A woman's undergarment worn beneath a dress or skirt.
She bought a new slip for her formal gown.
FAQs
Is "slide" used in music?
Yes, it refers to a gliding transition between notes.
Can "slide" refer to a gradual deterioration?
Yes, "slide" can imply a gradual decline in standard or quality.
Can "slip" refer to a piece of clothing?
Yes, it's a type of woman's undergarment.
Does "slide" only refer to physical movement?
No, it can also indicate a gradual change in state or quality.
Can "slide" be a noun?
Yes, it's also a playground equipment or a piece of film.
Is "slip" a term in pottery?
Yes, it's liquid clay used for decorating.
Is "slip" used in geology?
Yes, it refers to displacement along a fault.
Can "slip" mean to escape?
Yes, as in "slip away" or "slip out."
Does "slip" always imply an accident?
Typically, but it can also mean to quietly move or to make a mistake.
Does "slip" imply quickness?
It can, especially when referring to moving quietly or quickly.
Is "slide" controlled movement?
Often, but it can also happen due to external forces, like gravity.
Can "slide" be used in sports?
Yes, like in baseball, for a player sliding into a base.
Are slides only for children?
Primarily, but adults can use them in some contexts, like water slides.
Can "slip" happen on any surface?
It's more common on surfaces with less friction.
Can "slip" indicate a decrease?
Yes, as in a slip in rankings or performance.
Is "slide" a photography term?
Yes, it's a small piece of film in a frame.
Does "slide" imply ease?
Generally, it suggests a lack of friction or resistance.
Can "slip" be a minor mistake?
Yes, it's often used to mean a small error.
Can "slide" be deliberate?
Yes, it can be a purposeful movement.
Is "slip" always negative?
Often, but not always, like when one slips through unnoticed.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
