🗓️ Idiom: A Slippery Slope (n)
💬 Meaning
- A situation that can quickly lead to worse problems.
- A process that is hard to stop once it starts and may cause negative consequences.
🧠 Example Sentences
- Allowing one exception to the rules can be a slippery slope to unfair treatment.
- Ignoring small ethical issues at work might be a slippery slope to bigger problems later.
- Using false data in reports is a slippery slope that can damage the company’s reputation.
🏛️ Origin
The phrase “slippery slope” dates back to the 19th century and comes from a slippery hill or path where losing footing causes you to slide down uncontrollably. Later it came to describe situations where one small step leads to a problem getting progressively worse.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank:
Ignoring the early signs of fraud can be a ________ for a company.
Answer
slippery slope
2. Multiple choice:
What does “a slippery slope” mean?
a) A safe path
b) A situation that can quickly get worse
c) A positive change
Answer
b) A situation that can quickly get worse
3. Change the sentence using “a slippery slope”:
“Making one small mistake could lead to bigger problems.”
Answer
Making one small mistake is a slippery slope.