slip my mind

Meaning

This idiom means to be forgotten, especially temporarily. It is commonly used as an excuse or a polite explanation for forgetting an appointment, a task, or a piece of information. The tone is apologetic, casual, and relatable.

Examples

• I'm so sorry I didn't call you back; it completely slipped my mind.

  I'm so sorry I didn't call you back; it completely slipped my mind.

• I meant to buy some milk on the way home, but it slipped my mind.

  I meant to buy some milk on the way home, but it slipped my mind.

• Don't let this meeting slip your mind; it's very important.

  Don't let this meeting slip your mind; it's very important.

• Her birthday totally slipped my mind, so I had to send a late card.

  Her birthday totally slipped my mind, so I had to send a late card.

• I had a question to ask you, but it has slipped my mind for the moment.

  I had a question to ask you, but it has slipped my mind for the moment.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I slipped my mind about the meeting.

  ✓ The meeting slipped my mind.

  The subject of the sentence must be the thing that was forgotten (or the dummy pronoun 'it'), not the person.

• ✗ The date slipped from my mind.

  ✓ The date slipped my mind.

  Do not use the preposition 'from'. The idiom is simply 'slip [someone's] mind'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I was supposed to reply to her email, but it completely ___.

  💡 I forgot to do it.

  Show answer

  slipped my mind

• Did the doctor's appointment ___? You missed it.

  💡 Did you forget about it?

  Show answer

  slip your mind