Meaning & use
slipped in
Last updated
“slipped in” is a form of “slip in”.
Meanings
phraseintransitive
Past form of slip in: entered a place quietly and without being noticed.
Grammar: No object: she slipped in at the back of the hall.
Patterns
- slip in through something
- slip in quietly
She slipped in at the back of the room after the talk began.
The cat slipped in through the open window.
He slipped in without anyone noticing.
phrasetransitive
Past form of slip in: added or inserted something quickly or casually, often without drawing attention.
Grammar: Takes an object: he slipped in a joke, or he slipped the note in.
Patterns
- slip something in
- slip in something
He slipped in a question about pay near the end of the meeting.
She slipped the letter in with the other papers.
The writer slipped in a hidden joke on every page.
Common combinations
- slipped in quietly
- The student slipped in quietly and found a seat.
- slipped in a remark
- He slipped in a remark about the budget.
- slipped in unnoticed
- A thief slipped in unnoticed through the back door.
- slipped in through the window
- The smell of fresh bread slipped in through the window.
- slipped in at the back
- They slipped in at the back of the church.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sneaked in
- Suggests you did not want to be seen, while slipped in can also be quick and polite.
- crept in
- Stresses slow, quiet movement, whereas slipped in is smoother and faster.
- inserted
- A neutral, formal word for adding something and does not carry the quick, casual feeling.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: slipped in or slipped on?
slipped in vs slipped on
Slipped on can mean lost your footing or put on clothes quickly, so it differs from slipped in, which is about entering or inserting.
Practice
The latecomer ___ at the back of the theater without disturbing anyone.
Choose one answer.
Slipped in means entered quietly. Slipped out means left, slipped up means made a mistake, and slipped off means removed or left secretly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slipped in”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.