slippery slope
Say it: SLIP-uh-ree slope /ˌslɪp(ə)ri ˈsləʊp/ · noun
What “slippery slope” means
Claiming one small step will inevitably cause extreme consequences.
More precisely: The argument that one small step will inevitably lead to a chain of extreme consequences.
Example: “'If we allow Friday drinks, soon nobody will work at all' is a slippery slope argument.”
When to use it
When someone predicts a disastrous chain from one small change without establishing the links. Common in policy debates and everyday arguments.
Similar words
thin end of the wedge, domino argument
Quick check
Someone insists that allowing one biscuit before dinner will inevitably lead to eating only sweets forever. That argument is…
a slippery slope or a compromise?
Show the answer
a slippery slope
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