slip through somebody's fingers
slip through (one's) fingers
1. To narrowly avoid being caught, captured, or maintained in custody by one, usually due to cunning or trickery by the one being pursued. The officers very nearly apprehended the suspect, but he slipped through their fingers at the last second. We had the cell guarded by three people, but she still managed to slip through our fingers somehow.
2. To narrowly fail to be attained, achieved, or seized upon by one. I had a chance to be a part of a Broadway musical once, but I was too unsure of myself and the opportunity slipped through my fingers. We've been training too hard to let another championship title slip through our fingers again this year!
See also: finger, slip, through
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
slip through somebody’s ˈfingers
(of an opportunity, money, etc.) escape or be missed: I wouldn’t let a wonderful opportunity like this slip through your fingers if I were you.See also: finger, slip, through
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- drive (one) out of office
- force (one) out of office
- force out of office
- give (one) (one's) head
- give head
- give somebody their head
- give someone their head
- cooking for one
- 1FTR
- as one door closes, another (one) opens