slip by
slip by
1. To pass or move by (someone or something) quickly, surreptitiously, or inconspicuously. I managed to slip by while the guard wasn't looking. A lot of the references in the movie slipped by me because I hadn't seen the first one in the series. I couldn't believe that the afternoon had slipped by without the children fighting with each other once.
2. To pass or move something by someone or something in a quick, inconspicuous, or furtive manner. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "slip" and "by." The player slipped the ball past the goalie and into the net. See if you can slip this by the boss on your way out of the office.
See also: by, slip
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
slip by
1. and slip by someone or something to move by someone or something quickly or unnoticed; to move through a tight area or past someone or something in a tight area. The hall was narrow, and I could hardly have slipped by.
2. [for time] to pass quickly or unnoticed. Goodness, almost an hour has slipped by! How time flies. The entire workday slipped by before I knew it.
See also: by, slip
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
slip by
v.
1. To pass someone or something gradually, easily, or without being noticed: The thief slipped by the guards. Time slips by when you're enjoying yourself.
2. To pass something by someone or something gradually, easily, or without being noticed: We slipped the key by the guards.
See also: by, slip
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- slip through
- dip out
- sidle up
- sidle up (from someone or something)
- sidle
- sidle away
- sidle away (from someone or something)
- peek in
- peek in(to something)
- peep in(to something)