slip through

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

To get past an inspection or procedure without any issue.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Criticisms of poor accuracy can usually be justified, but the occasional error (as in many a published work) can still slip through.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

To barely pass; to minimally succeed at something.

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “slip through” mean?

To get past an inspection or procedure without any issue.

Is “slip through” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.