⛷️ a slippery slope
Concrete Meaning
A situation or course of action that, once started, is difficult to stop and usually leads to a negative or extreme outcome.
💬 Context & Examples
Used often in debates, negotiations, or rule-making to warn against making a small compromise that could accidentally lead to disaster.
- "Allowing employees to skip the security protocol just this once is a slippery slope."
- "If we start cutting the quality of our materials to save money, it's a slippery slope to losing our brand reputation."
🧠 Pattern Challenge
Test Yourself
What physical force makes a literal "slippery slope" so dangerous to walk on?
Show Answer
Gravity and a lack of friction! Once you start sliding down, you lose control and cannot easily stop yourself.