Slips is a device used to grip and hold the upper part of a drill string to the drill floor on an oil rig.
[1] The slips are constructed as a collection of metal wedges, hinged together to form a circular shape around the drill pipe.
On the inside surface, the slips normally has replaceable steel teeth that grips the pipe.
The wedges then holds the drill pipe by the compressive force.
After work is completed, the drill string is raised, thereby unlocking the gripping action.