slip one's mind

You are wondering about the meaning of the phrase slip one's mind, maybe you heard it in a TV show, movie or theater play. Although this idiom is not used very often, it enriches your capacity of expression and strengthens communication. In which case is the expression slip one's mind used and what is its meaning?

Meaning of "slip one's mind"

Meaning

The idiom 'slip one's mind' is defined as an unintentional forgetting or failing to think of something. It is used when someone has forgotten an important fact, task, or person. It implies that the person is not purposefully trying to forget, but rather that it has just been forgotten due to a lapse of memory.

Etymology

The phrase 'slip one's mind' is first recorded in the 16th century. It is an idiom derived from the Latin phrase oblivisci, which roughly translates to 'forget'. This phrase is likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wleip, which means 'to glide'. This is likely where the notion of something slipping away comes from.

Usage

The idiom 'slip one's mind' can be used in both formal and informal conversations. It is mostly used to inform someone that something was forgotten or neglected. It is used in both past and present tense, though it does not have an explicit future tense form. For example, someone might say, “I’m sorry, I forgot to bring the food; it slipped my mind.” In this sentence, the idiom is being used to apologize for forgetting to bring food.

Example Sentences

• I'm so sorry, I totally forgot. It slipped my mind.
• I'm afraid I neglected to call her, it slipped my mind.
• The wedding anniversary had slipped her mind until her husband reminded her.
• I was so busy that I completely forgot about it; I'm afraid it slipped my mind.

From One Language to Another: Idioms in Translation

Translating idioms from one language to another can be a tricky task, as the cultural context behind an idiom can be difficult to capture. For example, the French phrase "avoir le cafard" translates to "to have the cockroach," which means to feel down or depressed. Similarly, the Chinese idiom "????" (j?ng d? zh? w?) translates to "frog at the bottom of a well," which refers to someone with a narrow view of the world.