“To let something slide” means to allow something to pass without taking any action or without criticizing it. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Overlook
- Meaning: “Overlook” means to fail to notice something or to choose not to pay attention to a fault or an issue. It implies a conscious decision to disregard something. For example, “The manager decided to overlook the employee's minor mistake this time.” In comparison to “let something slide,” “overlook” often sounds more deliberate and may involve a position of authority or a sense of judgment. When you overlook something, you are making a decision that it's not worth addressing at the moment.
- Example: “The teacher chose to overlook the student's tardiness as it was his first offense.”
2. Ignore
- Meaning: “Ignore” means to pay no attention to something, often deliberately. It can imply a more passive act of simply not dealing with or acknowledging something. For example, “She ignored the rumors that were spreading about her.” In relation to “let something slide,” “ignore” is a stronger term. “Let something slide” can sometimes imply a bit of leniency or a one - time allowance, while “ignore” can suggest a more consistent refusal to engage with the matter.
- Example: “He ignored the warning signs and continued with his plan.”
3. Disregard
- Meaning: “Disregard” means to pay no attention to or treat something as unimportant. It has a similar meaning to “ignore” but can also imply a lack of respect for the importance of something. For example, “The driver disregarded the traffic rules and caused an accident.” In contrast to “let something slide,” “disregard” often implies a more blatant violation or a lack of concern for the proper way of doing things. “Let something slide” can be more about a minor or understandable lapse.
- Example: “The committee disregarded the public's concerns and pushed through the new policy.”
4. Wink at
- Meaning: “Wink at” is an idiomatic expression that means to pretend not to notice something wrong or illegal, usually in a somewhat knowing or indulgent way. For example, “The security guard winked at the minor rule - breaking of the regular customers.” In comparison to “let something slide,” “wink at” has a more playful or complicit connotation. It implies a kind of unspoken agreement to overlook something, often in a context where there is a bit of a gray area between what's strictly allowed and what's usually tolerated.
- Example: “The bartender winked at the customer who was a little over the legal drinking age.”