give the slip

Idioms and Phrases

Escape or evade someone. For example, He saw the rival gang approaching but managed to give them the slip . [Mid-1500s]

Example Sentences

His mission was to give the slip to the KGB and make contact.

From Washington Post

To frustrate or disappoint; to deceive or defraud, by nonfulfillment of engagement; to leave in the lurch; to give the slip to; as, to bilk a creditor.

From Project Gutenberg

I would put this the other way around: It is in the warmth of the welcome they give movie stars that the Globes give the slip to the insincere self-admonishments of the Academy and score their deepest consonance with the viewing habits of actual live human beings.

From Slate

"The lobby doors are open wide, And if I don't get in, But give the slip to our stern Whip, Just won't there be a din!"

From Project Gutenberg

"Sure!" he says, and she give the slip to the waiter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• baffle
• confound
• dodge
• evade
• flee
• foil
• frustrate
• outrun
• outwit
• puzzle
• shun
• stall
• stonewall
• thwart