A Slippery Slope — Meaning, Usage & Examples

What it means...

A situation that is likely to lead somewhere worse.

When you call something a slippery slope, you warn that one small exception makes the next one easier.

It's used to argue against changes that look harmless on their own.

Use it when…

When one small exception leads to many more
When a minor compromise starts a worse pattern
When bending a rule once makes it unenforceable

Don’t confuse with...

"The Last Straw"

—

The final thing that ends your patience

"Open a Can of Worms"

—

Start something complicated and messy

"A Slippery Slope"

—

One step leading somewhere worse

Where you’ll hear it

You’ll hear the "A Slippery Slope" idiom in real life — at work, in relationships, or in the media.

Work & Business

Corporate Issues

Compliance teams describe informal exceptions as a slippery slope toward losing the policy entirely.

Relationships & Social Life

Family

He argued that one late curfew was a slippery slope, and his daughter disagreed loudly.

Media & Everyday Life

Politics

Debates about emergency powers usually feature someone warning about a slippery slope.

‹›

Use it like this

Here’s how to use "A Slippery Slope" idiom naturally in real conversations, with real examples.

Work & Business

Raising concerns

You

Skipping review just this once is a slippery slope.

Colleague

Fair. Let's do it properly.

Relationships

Setting boundaries

Partner

Can we push the gym to tomorrow again?

You

That's a slippery slope and we both know how it ends.

Everyday Conversations

Opinions

You

Once you allow one exception, it's a slippery slope.

Friend

Depends whether anyone enforces the rule afterwards.

‹›

Last updated:

October 4, 2026

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