0
New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

slid/slipped

I slipped/slid my hand into his pocket and pull out his wallet.

This gadget is small enough to slide/slip into your pocket.

I slipped/slid a packet of cocaine into her purse without her noticing.

What's the difference between the two?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

No real difference to me.

— Optilang

  • No real difference to me.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
No real difference to me.
0
0
New2grammarI slipped/slid my hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.
To me the implication in both cases is that the movement is "effortless," but I feel that slipping is even more effortless than sliding. (I'm aware that "effortless" is an absolute.) With the examples you chose, I think with slipping, once you start it in the right dir
0
0
Thanks, Optilang and Avangi.
Avangiis even more effortless than sliding
This helps.
0
0
[I slipped/slid my hand into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.]

Does anyone else feel a sense of secrecy with 'slip' in these cases?
0
0
PhilipDoes anyone else feel a sense of secrecy with 'slip' in these cases?
I.

But it was blown when I pulled it out.

I think it's generally used for stealth.

I quitely slipped out the door.

I slipped into bed beside her without waking her.
0
0
She slipped/slid into her shoes. (I think either one is OK, right?)

She slipped/slid her backpack on.
0
0
Personally, I wouldn't use "slid" in either of these two cases. (Others might. It's certainly not incorrect.)

Aside from that, we must take care about which item is "slipped." I would either slip my shoe (or slipper) on, or I would slip my foot (not my whole self) into my shoe. I would slip (my whole self) into my robe.

The backpack example is okay with "slipped."
0

Related Questions