slip through fingers

slip through your fingers

1. if something you hope to achieve slips through your fingers, you do not manage to achieve it. He has seen the world championship slip through his fingers twice. This is my big chance to make a career in journalism. I can't let it slip through my fingers.

2. if someone slips through your fingers they manage to escape from you. We've got men guarding all the exits and more men on the roof. He won't slip through our fingers this time.

See also: finger, slip, through