give someone the slip

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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Verb

give someone the slip (third-person singular simple present gives someone the slip, present participle giving someone the slip, simple past gave someone the slip, past participle given someone the slip)

1. (idiomatic) To evade, escape, or get away from somebody.

   The police chased the suspect for two days before he finally gave them the slip and vanished.

   • 1979, Blondie, One Way or Another (song)

     One way or another I'm gonna lose ya, I'm gonna give you the slip.

Translations

to evade, escape, or get away from somebody

• Finnish: livahtaa (fi), livistää (fi)
• French: fausser compagnie (fr)
• German: die Biege machen (de) (slang), sich vom Acker machen (de) (coll.)
• Russian: ускользну́ть (ru) pf (uskolʹznútʹ), улизну́ть (ru) pf (uliznútʹ)
• Spanish: dar esquinazo, salirse por la tangente