Grammar fix
slip up
make a mistake
To make a small mistake, usually by accident or carelessness.
phrasal verbB1common
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- I slipped up and sent the email to the wrong person.daily life
- In my last job interview, I slipped up when I forgot the company's name, which was a bit embarrassing.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: slip up (on something)
WrongI slipped up a mistake.
RightI slipped up.
'Slip up' already means make a mistake — don't add 'a mistake'.
Patternslip up (on something)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Slip up' is the everyday way to admit a small mistake; 'committed an error' is formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
slip up + contextbadlyonceon the detailssomewhere
Don't confuse it
Compare with 'mess up,' which can mean a bigger or more serious mistake.