slip of the tongue

Meaning

This phrase refers to a minor mistake where you accidentally say the wrong word or reveal a secret. It implies that the error was completely unintentional and not what you actually meant to say. The tone is neutral and can be used to excuse yourself after making a verbal blunder.

Examples

• I'm sorry, I meant to say Tuesday, not Thursday—it was just a slip of the tongue.

  I'm sorry, I meant to say Tuesday, not Thursday—it was just a slip of the tongue.

• Calling his new girlfriend by his ex's name was a terrible slip of the tongue.

  Calling his new girlfriend by his ex's name was a terrible slip of the tongue.

• She didn't mean to reveal the surprise party; it was a slip of the tongue.

  She didn't mean to reveal the surprise party; it was a slip of the tongue.

• Don't take it personally; it was just a simple slip of the tongue.

  Don't take it personally; it was just a simple slip of the tongue.

• The politician's slip of the tongue was caught on camera and went viral.

  The politician's slip of the tongue was caught on camera and went viral.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I made a tongue slip.

  ✓ It was a slip of the tongue.

  The phrase is a fixed idiom. You cannot change the word order or combine them into a compound noun like 'tongue slip.'

• ✗ He had a slip of tongue.

  ✓ He had a slip of the tongue.

  Do not forget the definite article 'the' before 'tongue.' The full idiom is 'slip of the tongue.'

Related Expressions

Practice

• I didn't mean to say that; it was just a ________.

  💡 A minor verbal mistake.

  Show answer

  slip of the tongue

• He let the secret out by a ________.

  💡 He spoke accidentally.

  Show answer

  slip of the tongue