滑(すべ)り止(ど)め

すべりどめ
noun
non-slip device; anti-slip material; backup school
daily-lifeeducation
1. non-slip device; anti-slip material; anti-skid
Something that prevents slipping — a mat, coating, treads, snow chains, or any other anti-slip device or material.
階段(かいだん)に滑(すべ)り止(ど)めを付(つ)けた。
I attached non-slip strips to the stairs.
滑(すべ)り止(ど)めの付(つ)いた靴下(くつした)を履(は)いた。
I put on socks with non-slip grips.
雪道(ゆきみち)を走(はし)るので、タイヤに滑(すべ)り止(ど)めを付(つ)けた。
Since I'll be driving on snowy roads, I put anti-skid chains on the tires.
2. backup school; safety school
In Japanese school entrance exams, a less competitive school that a student applies to as insurance in case they fail to get into their first choice. A figurative extension of the 'preventing slipping' meaning.
滑(すべ)り止(ど)めの大学(だいがく)も受(う)けた。
I also applied to a backup university.
第一志望(だいいちしぼう)に落(お)ちて滑(すべ)り止(ど)めに進学(しんがく)した。
I didn't get into my first choice, so I enrolled at my backup school.
受験生(じゅけんせい)は第一志望(だいいちしぼう)に加(くわ)えて滑(すべ)り止(ど)めを二三校(にさんこう)受(う)けるのが普通(ふつう)だ。
It's normal for exam-takers to apply to two or three backup schools in addition to their first choice.

Compound of 滑(すべ)る (to slip) + 止(と)める (to stop). Literally 'slip-stop.'

The figurative 'backup school' sense plays on the verb 滑(すべ)る, which in student slang also means 'to fail an exam.' A 滑(すべ)り止(ど)め school 'stops you from failing.'

Common collocations

Cultural note

Due to the highly competitive entrance-exam system, Japanese students typically apply to several schools at different difficulty levels, designating one or more as their 滑(すべ)り止(ど)め.

Related Words

Related: 滑(すべ)る (to slide, to slip)
Related: 志望校(しぼうこう) (school of one's choice)
Related: 第一志望(だいいちしぼう) (first choice)
Related: 登山靴(とざんぐつ) (hiking boots)
general
Added 2026.5.15 12:09 · Revised 2026.10.5 9:36
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