slip-up

[ slip-uhp ]

noun

1. a mistake, blunder, or oversight:

   Several slip-ups caused a delay in the delivery of the books.

   Synonyms: bungle, lapse, error

slip up

verb

1. informal.
   to make a blunder or mistake; err
2. to fall over

   he slipped up in the street

noun

1. informal.
   a mistake, blunder, or mishap

Word History and Origins

Origin of slip-up¹

First recorded in 1850–55; noun use of verb phrase slip up

Idioms and Phrases

Make a mistake, blunder, as in I slipped up and gave the invitations to the wrong people . [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Liverpool dropped points against Arsenal in their last league game, but I can’t see that happening here - Brighton will cause them problems but they can't afford to slip up, and they won't.

From BBC

And I think that’s part of the reason why I slipped up in the way that I did.

From Los Angeles Times

Instead, Morgan was encouraged to do press interviews "and hopefully slip up".

From BBC

Saratoga has seen upsets since opening before the end of the Civil War, including Upset defeating decorated Man o’ War and Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh slipping up against Keen Ice in the Travers.

From Seattle Times

His team is insistent that they must keep fighting for the broadest possible level of support - relax or slip up, and their huge hypothetical lead could fall away.

From BBC

Related Words

• err
• misconstrue
• misinterpret
• misjudge
• misread
• misunderstand
• overestimate
• overrate
• overvalue
• underestimate
• undervalue