slip away meaning and examples

Meaning

“Slip away” is a phrasal verb that means:

1. To leave quietly or unnoticed.
2. (Time, opportunities) To pass quickly or gradually disappear.
3. (Life) To die peacefully or gradually.

Grammar and Usage

• Part of speech: phrasal verb (intransitive).

• Patterns:

  • Someone slips away → leave quietly.
  • Time/opportunities slip away → pass or be lost.
  • A person slips away → die gently.

Common Phrases

• slip away unnoticed
• let the chance slip away
• time slipped away
• he slipped away in his sleep

Collocations

• Verb + away: slip away quietly, slip away unnoticed
• Noun + slip away: time, opportunity, chance
• Adverbs: quietly slip away, silently slip away

Examples

1. She managed to slip away before anyone noticed she was gone.
2. I don’t want this opportunity to slip away.
3. The hours slipped away while we were talking.
4. The prisoner tried to slip away unnoticed during the chaos.
5. He slipped away peacefully in his sleep.
6. Don’t let your dreams slip away just because of fear.
7. The moment quickly slipped away, and I regretted not taking a photo.
8. She silently slipped away from the party without saying goodbye.

Synonyms or Related

• sneak off
• steal away
• disappear
• vanish
• fade away

Antonym

• show up
• stick around
• stay put