Changes

===Metaphorical===

===Metaphorical===

:It is not with them we are concerned: they will not be taught or reformed; so, they will go down the steep and slippery slope on which the heartless move, to perdition!

:It is not with them we are concerned: they will not be taught or reformed; so, they will go down the steep and slippery slope on which the heartless move, to perdition!

::&mdash;Bernard O'Reilly, 1878<ref>O'Reilly, Bernard ("Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, L.D.") (1883) ''The Mirror of True Womanhood, A Book of Instruction for Women in the World,'' 2nd Edition, Dublin, M. H. Gill and Son, "Reprinted from the Thirteenth American Edition." [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0tteeqHbx_PA4OUD&id=RZcDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA136&lpg=PA136&dq=%22steep+and+slippery+slope%22&as_brr=1&ie=ISO-8859-1 p. 136]. The Thirteenth American Edition was published in 1878 by Peter F. Collier, New York.</ref>

::&mdash;Bernard O'Reilly, 1878<ref>O'Reilly, Bernard ("Rev. Bernard O'Reilly, L.D.") (1883) ''The Mirror of True Womanhood, A Book of Instruction for Women in the World,'' 2nd Edition, Dublin, M. H. Gill and Son, "Reprinted from the Thirteenth American Edition." [https://books.google.com/books?vid=0tteeqHbx_PA4OUD&id=RZcDAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA136&lpg=PA136&dq=%22steep+and+slippery+slope%22&as_brr=1&ie=ISO-8859-1 p. 136]. The Thirteenth American Edition was published in 1878 by Peter F. Collier, New York.</ref>

:Is there one among us who is tempting a brother man to dishonesty, to drink, to lust; who is pushing some thoughtless girl down the steep and slippery slope which ends--we know where? Then let him stop and listen, not to me, but to Christ.

:Is there one among us who is tempting a brother man to dishonesty, to drink, to lust; who is pushing some thoughtless girl down the steep and slippery slope which ends--we know where? Then let him stop and listen, not to me, but to Christ.

::George Jackson (1903), ''The Teachings of Jesus''<ref>Jackson, George ("The Rev. George Jackson, B.A.") (1903), ''The Teachings of Jesus,'' Project Gutenberg [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11580/11580.txt Ebook #11580]</ref>

::George Jackson (1903), ''The Teachings of Jesus''<ref>Jackson, George ("The Rev. George Jackson, B.A.") (1903), ''The Teachings of Jesus,'' Project Gutenberg [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11580/11580.txt Ebook #11580]</ref>

:The cry for the rates in addition to the taxes has been going up from the clerical for years. But they were warned by the late Archbishop of Canterbury<ref>Presumably a reference to Frederick Temple (1821-1902)</ref> not to attempt it, for as surely as they succeeded they would lose their control of their sectarian schools. They would be on the "slippery slope," he said, in a characteristic phrase. However, they have taken the plunge, and the Education Acts of 1902 and 1903 are the results.

:The cry for the rates in addition to the taxes has been going up from the clerical for years. But they were warned by the late Archbishop of Canterbury<ref>Presumably a reference to Frederick Temple (1821-1902)</ref> not to attempt it, for as surely as they succeeded they would lose their control of their sectarian schools. They would be on the "slippery slope," he said, in a characteristic phrase. However, they have taken the plunge, and the Education Acts of 1902 and 1903 are the results.

::&mdash;John Clifford, 1905<ref>"Clifford, John (190-) ("The Rev. John Clifford, D.D."), "Passive Resistance in England and Wales." ''The North American Review,'' 1905, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0mtYjU29qkWCiIvihryzCSI&id=sF0CAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA436&lpg=PA436&dq=%22slippery+slope%22&as_brr=1#PPA436,M1 p. 436]</ref>

::&mdash;John Clifford, 1905<ref>"Clifford, John (190-) ("The Rev. John Clifford, D.D."), "Passive Resistance in England and Wales." ''The North American Review,'' 1905, [https://books.google.com/books?vid=0mtYjU29qkWCiIvihryzCSI&id=sF0CAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA436&lpg=PA436&dq=%22slippery+slope%22&as_brr=1#PPA436,M1 p. 436]</ref>

:We cannot give up any portion of our claim until the question of interallied debts has been settled. We have the right and duty to guarantee ourselves against the possibility of a diminution of our claim by the international financiers.... If today Germany obtained any remission of her debt she would profit....  It was by far the wisest policy to hold fast at the top of that slippery slope."

:We cannot give up any portion of our claim until the question of interallied debts has been settled. We have the right and duty to guarantee ourselves against the possibility of a diminution of our claim by the international financiers.... If today Germany obtained any remission of her debt she would profit....  It was by far the wisest policy to hold fast at the top of that slippery slope."

==Slope to perdition==

==Slope to perdition==

The modern phrase, used seriously in a political or social context is simply ''slippery slope.'' The phrase "slippery slope to perdition" is also seen, but is usually ironic, as in a recent book on programming:

The modern phrase, used seriously in a political or social context is simply ''slippery slope.'' The phrase "slippery slope to perdition" is also seen, but is usually ironic, as in a recent book on programming:

:A parser that writes code, even if the code is only an occasional semicolon, seems like the beginning of a slippery slope to perdition. Pretty soon the Maple interface will behave like the Evil Empire's flagship word-processor, which tries to write for its unfortunate users.<ref>O'Farrell, Anthony Gilbert (2005), ''Introduction to Maple Programming,'' [http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0954426940&id=a6uuImAJBF4C&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=%22slippery+slope+to+perdition%22&num=100&sig=ZaqfaLy1hEVBih-K8jVic8UOjHo p. 56]</ref>

:A parser that writes code, even if the code is only an occasional semicolon, seems like the beginning of a slippery slope to perdition. Pretty soon the Maple interface will behave like the Evil Empire's flagship word-processor, which tries to write for its unfortunate users.<ref>O'Farrell, Anthony Gilbert (2005), ''Introduction to Maple Programming,'' [https://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0954426940&id=a6uuImAJBF4C&pg=PA56&lpg=PA56&dq=%22slippery+slope+to+perdition%22&num=100&sig=ZaqfaLy1hEVBih-K8jVic8UOjHo p. 56]</ref>

The 1800s provide examples of serious rhetoric using the phrase "slope to perdition." Sometimes the slope is "slippery;" in other cases the word is not used but the context ("headlong slope to perdition") implies it. An example from 1837:

The 1800s provide examples of serious rhetoric using the phrase "slope to perdition." Sometimes the slope is "slippery;" in other cases the word is not used but the context ("headlong slope to perdition") implies it. An example from 1837:

:There are points where the Christian must always stand on guard. His danger is seldom found in gross offenses... but in small indulgences, and weak compliances, where conscience rather doubts, than condemns. These gradually draw him nearer and nearer to the world, till the line of separation is lost. Many a Christian has glided down this slope to perdition.<ref>Osler, Edward (1837), ''Church and King," Smith, Elder and Co., London, [http://books.google.com/books?vid=0TsM-spLESANuCZ4&id=AScBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=%22slope+to+perdition%22 p. 13]</ref>

:There are points where the Christian must always stand on guard. His danger is seldom found in gross offenses... but in small indulgences, and weak compliances, where conscience rather doubts, than condemns. These gradually draw him nearer and nearer to the world, till the line of separation is lost. Many a Christian has glided down this slope to perdition.<ref>Osler, Edward (1837), ''Church and King," Smith, Elder and Co., London, [https://books.google.com/books?vid=0TsM-spLESANuCZ4&id=AScBAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA13&lpg=PA13&dq=%22slope+to+perdition%22 p. 13]</ref>

==See also==

==See also==