slip away
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle away
Meanings
Leave quietly without being noticed
Why “away”? A person, object, look, or choice becomes more distant from its starting point.
“He slipped away during the speech.”
“She slipped away before anyone noticed.”
Pass gradually, especially time or opportunity
Why “away”? Something slowly becomes weaker until it is gone.
“The chance to buy the house slipped away.”
“The summer slipped away too fast.”
“Time just slipped away from me.”
Don't confuse with
Slip away focuses on leaving unnoticed. Slip off often focuses on leaving quietly without saying goodbye.
Slip away means leave quietly without being noticed. Slip in means enter quietly without being noticed.
Slip away means pass gradually. Slip by means of time.
Test yourself
“He slipped away during the speech.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
slip by
A contrast learners often mix up
Pass quietly without being noticed; Of time, pass quietly without being noticed
slip in
A contrast learners often mix up
Enter quietly without being noticed
slip off
A contrast learners often mix up
Leave a place quietly and without being noticed
slip through
A contrast learners often mix up
Pass through quietly or unnoticed
back away
Same away pattern: leaving
Move away or distance yourself, often from fear or caution
break away
Same away pattern: leaving
Escape from someone holding you; Leave a group to form a separate one; Pull ahead of others in a race
call away
Same away pattern: leaving
Be required to leave because of an urgent matter
chase away
Same away pattern: leaving
Force someone or something to leave by chasing
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