"slippery slope" meaning in All languages combined

See slippery slope on Wiktionary

Noun [English]

Forms: slippery slopes [plural]
Head templates: {{en-noun}} slippery slope (plural slippery slopes)
  1. (figuratively) A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious. Tags: figuratively Synonyms: thin edge of the wedge, thin end of the wedge Translations (argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion): 滑坡謬誤 (Chinese Cantonese), 滑坡谬误 (waat⁶ bo¹ mau⁶ ng⁶) (Chinese Cantonese), 滑坡謬誤 (Chinese Mandarin), 滑坡谬误 (huápō miùwù) (Chinese Mandarin), kaltevan pinnan argumentti (Finnish), Dammbruchargument [neuter] (German) Translations (chain of events): 滑坡 (waat⁶ bo¹) (Chinese Cantonese), 滑坡 (huápō) (Chinese Mandarin), kalteva pinta (Finnish), pente glissante [feminine] (French), pente savonneuse [feminine] (French), csúszós lejtő (Hungarian), równia pochyła [feminine] (Polish), ско́льзкий путь (skólʹzkij putʹ) [masculine] (Russian), ско́льзкая доро́жка (skólʹzkaja doróžka) [feminine] (Russian)
    Sense id: en-slippery_slope-en-noun-iWWHmepd Disambiguation of 'argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion': 71 29 Disambiguation of 'chain of events': 95 5
  2. (by extension) A logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a particular result will probably follow from a given decision or circumstance, without necessarily providing any rational argument for the likelihood of the assumed consequence. Tags: broadly Categories (topical): Logical fallacies Related terms: domino effect, negative feedback, point of no return, snowball effect, tipping point, vicious circle
    Sense id: en-slippery_slope-en-noun-rRsIsxtN Disambiguation of Logical fallacies: 11 89 Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with 1 entry, Pages with entries, Terms with Cantonese translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Russian translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 42 58 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 37 63 Disambiguation of Pages with 1 entry: 42 58 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 38 62 Disambiguation of Terms with Cantonese translations: 26 74 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 28 72 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 31 69 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 30 70 Disambiguation of Terms with Hungarian translations: 30 70 Disambiguation of Terms with Mandarin translations: 24 76 Disambiguation of Terms with Polish translations: 30 70 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 30 70

Inflected forms

{
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "slippery slopes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "slippery slope (plural slippery slopes)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I think basing your actions off an assumption like that is a slippery slope that is going to get you in trouble.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1959, United States Department of State, quoting Mr. Gromyko, “Seventh Session, May 19, 1959”, in International Organization and Conference Series:",
          "text": "But our conference would find itself on a slippery slope if we started to dig over the past and look for material for recriminations and mutual accusations.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1964 November, P. F. Winding, “Re-shaping the LMR's North Western Line - 2”, in Modern Railways, page 346:",
          "text": "The path of closures and withdrawals is a slippery slope that can by itself create in the mind of the public—and particularly traders—the impression of a fading and diminishing concern.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 May 20, Walter Thompson, “A school's mural removal: should kids be shielded from brutal US history?”, in The Guardian:",
          "text": "“What we’re looking at is the classic slippery slope,” he said. “If the murals can be destroyed, then no work of art that anyone finds offensive is going to be safe. And that’s an awful lot of art.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious."
      ],
      "id": "en-slippery_slope-en-noun-iWWHmepd",
      "links": [
        [
          "chain",
          "chain"
        ],
        [
          "event",
          "event"
        ],
        [
          "initiated",
          "initiated"
        ],
        [
          "halted",
          "halted"
        ],
        [
          "outcome",
          "outcome"
        ],
        [
          "undesirable",
          "undesirable"
        ],
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively) A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "thin edge of the wedge"
        },
        {
          "word": "thin end of the wedge"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "yue",
          "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
          "roman": "waat⁶ bo¹",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "word": "滑坡"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "huápō",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "word": "滑坡"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "word": "kalteva pinta"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "pente glissante"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "pente savonneuse"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "word": "csúszós lejtő"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "równia pochyła"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "skólʹzkij putʹ",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "ско́льзкий путь"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "95 5",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "skólʹzkaja doróžka",
          "sense": "chain of events",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "ско́льзкая доро́жка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "yue",
          "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "word": "滑坡謬誤"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "yue",
          "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
          "roman": "waat⁶ bo¹ mau⁶ ng⁶",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "word": "滑坡谬误"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "word": "滑坡謬誤"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "huápō miùwù",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "word": "滑坡谬误"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "word": "kaltevan pinnan argumentti"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "71 29",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
          "tags": [
            "neuter"
          ],
          "word": "Dammbruchargument"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "42 58",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 63",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "42 58",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 1 entry",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 62",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "26 74",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Cantonese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "31 69",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "24 76",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "11 89",
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Logical fallacies",
          "orig": "en:Logical fallacies",
          "parents": [
            "Logic",
            "Rhetoric",
            "Formal sciences",
            "Philosophy",
            "Language",
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Communication",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a particular result will probably follow from a given decision or circumstance, without necessarily providing any rational argument for the likelihood of the assumed consequence."
      ],
      "id": "en-slippery_slope-en-noun-rRsIsxtN",
      "links": [
        [
          "logical fallacy",
          "logical fallacy"
        ],
        [
          "rational",
          "rational"
        ],
        [
          "argument",
          "argument"
        ],
        [
          "likelihood",
          "likelihood"
        ],
        [
          "consequence",
          "consequence"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) A logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a particular result will probably follow from a given decision or circumstance, without necessarily providing any rational argument for the likelihood of the assumed consequence."
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "domino effect"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "negative feedback"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "point of no return"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "snowball effect"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "tipping point"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "38 62",
          "word": "vicious circle"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "broadly"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "slippery slope"
  ],
  "word": "slippery slope"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 1 entry",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Requests for quotations in English",
    "Terms with Cantonese translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "en:Logical fallacies"
  ],
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "slippery slopes",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
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  "head_templates": [
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      "args": {},
      "expansion": "slippery slope (plural slippery slopes)",
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "domino effect"
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    {
      "word": "negative feedback"
    },
    {
      "word": "point of no return"
    },
    {
      "word": "snowball effect"
    },
    {
      "word": "tipping point"
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    {
      "word": "vicious circle"
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  ],
  "senses": [
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      "categories": [
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        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "I think basing your actions off an assumption like that is a slippery slope that is going to get you in trouble.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1959, United States Department of State, quoting Mr. Gromyko, “Seventh Session, May 19, 1959”, in International Organization and Conference Series:",
          "text": "But our conference would find itself on a slippery slope if we started to dig over the past and look for material for recriminations and mutual accusations.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1964 November, P. F. Winding, “Re-shaping the LMR's North Western Line - 2”, in Modern Railways, page 346:",
          "text": "The path of closures and withdrawals is a slippery slope that can by itself create in the mind of the public—and particularly traders—the impression of a fading and diminishing concern.",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2019 May 20, Walter Thompson, “A school's mural removal: should kids be shielded from brutal US history?”, in The Guardian:",
          "text": "“What we’re looking at is the classic slippery slope,” he said. “If the murals can be destroyed, then no work of art that anyone finds offensive is going to be safe. And that’s an awful lot of art.”",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "chain",
          "chain"
        ],
        [
          "event",
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        [
          "halted",
          "halted"
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        [
          "outcome",
          "outcome"
        ],
        [
          "undesirable",
          "undesirable"
        ],
        [
          "precarious",
          "precarious"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(figuratively) A chain of events that, once initiated, cannot be halted; especially one in which the final outcome is undesirable or precarious."
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "thin edge of the wedge"
        },
        {
          "word": "thin end of the wedge"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a particular result will probably follow from a given decision or circumstance, without necessarily providing any rational argument for the likelihood of the assumed consequence."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "logical fallacy",
          "logical fallacy"
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(by extension) A logical fallacy in which a party asserts that a particular result will probably follow from a given decision or circumstance, without necessarily providing any rational argument for the likelihood of the assumed consequence."
      ],
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        "broadly"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "yue",
      "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
      "roman": "waat⁶ bo¹",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "word": "滑坡"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "huápō",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "word": "滑坡"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "word": "kalteva pinta"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "pente glissante"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "pente savonneuse"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "word": "csúszós lejtő"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "równia pochyła"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "skólʹzkij putʹ",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "ско́льзкий путь"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "skólʹzkaja doróžka",
      "sense": "chain of events",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "ско́льзкая доро́жка"
    },
    {
      "code": "yue",
      "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "word": "滑坡謬誤"
    },
    {
      "code": "yue",
      "lang": "Chinese Cantonese",
      "roman": "waat⁶ bo¹ mau⁶ ng⁶",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "word": "滑坡谬误"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "word": "滑坡謬誤"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "huápō miùwù",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "word": "滑坡谬误"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "word": "kaltevan pinnan argumentti"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "argument that follows a chain of events to some conclusion",
      "tags": [
        "neuter"
      ],
      "word": "Dammbruchargument"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "slippery slope"
  ],
  "word": "slippery slope"
}

Download raw JSONL data for slippery slope meaning in All languages combined (5.6kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable All languages combined dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-11-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-10-02 using wiktextract (fbeafe8 and 7f03c9b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.