slack (redirected from took up the slack)

cut someone a break and cut someone some slack

Sl., to give someone a break; to allow someone a reprieve from the consequences of an action. Come on, cut me a break! I'm a good guy! I was only a few minutes late! Cut me a break! Don't dock my pay! Cut me some slack and I'll be sure to pay you all I owe in a month.

See also: break, cut

slack off 

1. to taper off; to reduce gradually. Business tends to slack off during the winter months. The storms begin to slack off in April.

2. [for someone] to become lazy or inefficient. Near the end of the school year, Sally began to slack off, and her grades showed it. John got fired for slacking off during the busy season.

slack up (on something) and slack off (on something)

to release the pressure or tension on something. Slack up on the rope a bit, will you? Please slack off!

See also: up

take the slack up 

1. Lit. to tighten a rope that is holding something loosely. Take the slack up if you can. This clothesline is too loose. Do something to take up the slack.

2. Fig. to do what needs to be done; to do what has been left undone. Do I have to take the slack up? Jill did her job poorly and I have to take up the slack.

See also: take, up

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cut somebody some slack  (American & Australian informal)

to allow someone to do something that is not usually allowed, or to treat someone less severely than is usual Officials have asked the Environmental Protection Agency to cut Utah some slack in enforcing the Clean Air Act.

See also: cut, some

pick/take up the slack  (American & Australian informal)

to do the work which someone else has stopped doing, but which still needs to be done When Sue starts going out to work each day, Bob and the kids will have to take up the slack and help more at home.

See cut some slack

See also: pick, up

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cut somebody some slack (spoken)

to give someone additional freedom I'm going to cut you some slack. Because it's the last day of classes, we don't have to talk anything serious today. If you and your kids don't agree about their futures, cut them some slack - explain your views, but don't try to force them to agree.

See also: cut, some

pick up the slack also take up the slack

to do something when someone else cannot or will not do it With our best player injured, other players picked up the slack. Who will take up the slack when our grant money runs out?

See also: pick, up

slack off

1. to work less hard than is usual or necessary Workers tend to slack off on Mondays and Fridays.

2. to become less severe or extreme If this rain would slack off, we could finish the work outside.