Disclose vs Leak vs The other just slips out

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Disclose

FormalTop 3,000 (common)C1verb

Leak

Top 1,000 (very common)C1verb

The other just slips out

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: DiscloseMost common: Leak
 DiscloseLeakThe other just slips out
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //dɪsˈkləʊz//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈkloʊz//🇬🇧 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːk/","/liːks/","/liːkt/","/ˈliːkɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //ðə ˈʌðə dʒʌst slɪps aʊt//🇺🇸 //ði ˈʌðər dʒʌst slɪps aʊt//
MeaningTo make something known or publicWhen a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in.Something is said accidentally or without thinking.
ExampleThe company decided to disclose its financial results to the public.The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift.During the interview, he just slips out that he was once arrested.
RegisterFormalNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelC1C1-
Part of speechverbverb
Collocationsdisclose information, disclose a secret, disclose detailsbadly, slightly, badly, slightly, carefully, deliberately, widely, from, tojust slips out, accidentally slips out, really slips out, always slips out, sometimes slips out
Antonymsconceal, hideseal, stop, plug-
Common mistakesConfused with 'clothe' - 'disclose' does not involve clothing., Incorrect verb form - using 'discloser' instead of 'disclose'.Confused with 'leech' which means to drain resources., Using 'leak' in situations where 'spillage' would be more appropriate., Omitting the object when saying something has leaked.Confused with 'slips in', which means to add something secretly., Using it in formal contexts where casual language is inappropriate., Incorrectly punctuating the phrase with extra commas.
Usage notesUsed primarily in formal contexts, such as legal or business environments. Avoid in casual conversation.Used in various contexts, from appliances to emotions. Avoid using in very formal discussions unless necessary.Use this phrase informally when talking about unintentional comments. It's not suitable for formal writing or speech.

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The other just slips out

Frequently asked questions: Disclose vs Leak vs The other just slips out

What's the difference between Disclose, Leak, and The other just slips out?

Disclose: To make something known or public Leak: When a liquid or gas comes out of something that should hold it in. The other just slips out: Something is said accidentally or without thinking.

Which is more formal: Disclose, Leak, and The other just slips out?

Disclose is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Disclose, Leak, and The other just slips out?

Leak is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Disclose: The company decided to disclose its financial results to the public. Leak: The pipe started to leak after the heavy rain caused the ground to shift. The other just slips out: During the interview, he just slips out that he was once arrested.

Can I use Disclose, Leak, and The other just slips out interchangeably?

Not always. Disclose, Leak, and The other just slips out are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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