Cool MateForget vs Slip your mind
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Forget
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Slip your mind
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: ForgetMost common: Forget
| Forget | Slip your mind | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fəˈɡet/","/fəˈɡets/","/fəˈɡɒt/","/fəˈɡɒtn/","/fəˈɡetɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fərˈɡet/","/fərˈɡets/","/fərˈɡɑːt/","/fərˈɡɑːtn/","/fərˈɡetɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //slɪp jɔːr maɪnd//🇺🇸 //slɪp jʊr maɪnd// |
| Meaning | To fail to remember something. | To forget something important |
| Example | I always forget where I put my keys. | I meant to call you yesterday, but it completely slipped my mind. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten, completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten, completely, quite, totally, seem to, tend to, want to, about, forget all about something, keep forgetting, largely forgotten | slip my mind, never slip your mind, always slips my mind |
| Antonyms | remember, recall | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Forget' is incorrectly used with a gerund (e.g., 'forget doing' instead of 'forget to do')., Confusing 'forget' with 'forgive' which have different meanings., Using 'forget' inappropriately in passive forms. | Confusing with 'slip of the tongue', which means saying something unintentionally., Using in formal contexts where 'forget' is more appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use 'forget' in neutral contexts when discussing memory. Avoid in formal writing; consider 'neglect' or 'overlook' instead. | Used in casual conversations when discussing forgotten tasks or appointments. Not suitable for formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: Forget vs Slip your mind
What's the difference between Forget and Slip your mind?
Forget: To fail to remember something. Slip your mind: To forget something important
Which is more formal: Forget and Slip your mind?
Forget is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Forget and Slip your mind?
Forget is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Forget: I always forget where I put my keys. Slip your mind: I meant to call you yesterday, but it completely slipped my mind.
Can I use Forget and Slip your mind interchangeably?
Not always. Forget and Slip your mind 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.