Caught slippin'
Meaning: Caught off guard, unprepared, or making a mistake. Not paying attention when you should have been.
Getting caught slippin' means you let your guard down and got caught in a vulnerable or embarrassing situation. It can be serious (caught in a lie, caught in enemy territory) or lighthearted (caught eating junk food on a diet, caught wearing the same outfit twice). It implies a failure of vigilance.
Examples
- He got caught slippin' when his girlfriend checked his phone. 他女朋友查他手机的时候,他完全没有防备。Lo pillaron desprevenido cuando su novia le revisó el móvil.彼女に携帯をチェックされた時、完全に油断してた。여자친구가 폰을 확인했을 때 완전 방심하고 있었어.
- Don't get caught slippin' on the exam — study tonight. 考试别大意——今晚好好复习。Que no te pillen desprevenido en el examen — estudia esta noche.試験で油断するなよ——今夜ちゃんと勉強しろ。시험에서 방심하지 마——오늘 밤 제대로 공부해.
- The security guard caught him slippin' trying to sneak in the back door. 保安逮到他试图从后门溜进去。El guardia de seguridad lo pilló intentando colarse por la puerta de atrás.裏口からこっそり入ろうとしたところを警備員に見つかった。뒷문으로 몰래 들어가려다가 경비원한테 딱 걸렸다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: warnings, gossip, casual conversation
Tone: cautionary, amused
✓ Do Say
- Don't get caught slippin'.Don't get caught slippin'.(别让人逮着你走神。)Que no te pillen desprevenido.Don't get caught slippin'.(油断するなよ。)방심하다 걸리지 마.
- He got caught slippin'.He got caught slippin'.(他被逮个正着。)Lo pillaron desprevenido.He got caught slippin'.(あいつ油断してたところを捕まった。)걔 방심하다 걸렸어.
✗ Don't Say
- Originally had serious connotations about safety — the lighthearted usage is a more recent broadening这个词最初有关于人身安全的严肃含义——轻松的用法是较新的延伸Originalmente tenía connotaciones serias relacionadas con la seguridad — el uso más ligero es una ampliación más reciente元々は安全に関する深刻な意味合いがあった——軽い用法はより最近の広がり원래는 안전과 관련된 심각한 의미가 있었다——가벼운 용법은 비교적 최근에 확장된 것이다
Origin & History
Originated in AAVE street culture where 'slipping' meant letting your guard down in dangerous situations. The phrase has been used since the 1990s and has broadened to describe any situation where someone is caught unprepared or making a mistake.
Cultural Context
Era: 1990s-present
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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