slip
noun
Slip — the cunning, almost effortless act of avoiding capture
Definition
The act of avoiding capture (especially by cunning)
In depth
A slip, in this sense, names the act of avoiding capture, especially through cunning, agility, or quiet stealth rather than open conflict or speed. The word implies a kind of smoothness, the sense of someone or something passing through a closing gap before it can shut entirely, leaving pursuers grasping at nothing.
Origin
The word descends from Middle Low German slippen, to slide or glide, part of a Germanic word family concerned with smooth, frictionless motion. That image of sliding away, rather than running or fighting free, gives the word its particular connotation of effortlessness, the sense of someone simply gliding out of a pursuer's grasp rather than struggling against it.
Usage examples
"His slip from the guards' grasp, in the chaos of the crowded marketplace, took everyone, including himself, by surprise."
"The fox's slip past the hounds, accomplished through a single clever feint, became a favorite story told for years afterward."
"She managed a quiet slip out the back entrance before anyone realized she had even considered leaving."
How to use it
Slip in this sense suits narrative writing emphasizing cleverness, agility, or quiet stealth rather than dramatic or violent escape, useful for moments where the avoidance of capture feels almost effortless or unnoticed by those nearby.
Related concepts
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