slack

/slæk/
noun
  1. The part of a rope, cable, or sail that is loose or not tight.
    • There was too much slack in the fishing line.
    • Pull the slack out of the rope to make it taut.
    • He took up the slack in the cable before securing it.
  2. Freedom to move or act without restriction; leeway.
    • I need some slack to finish this project my way.
    • The teacher cut the student some slack because he was new.
    • The new policy gives employees more slack in their schedules.
  3. A period of little activity or business.
    • During the slack, the workers cleaned the kitchen.
    • The restaurant experiences a slack between lunch and dinner.
    • There was a slack in sales after the holiday season.
verb
  1. To make less tight; to loosen.
    • She slacked her grip on the handle.
    • Slack the line a little so the flag can wave.
    • He slacked the rope to lower the bucket.
  2. To avoid work or responsibility; to be lazy.
    • She slacked off during the group project and let others do the work.
    • He's been slacking all week instead of studying.
    • Don't slack on your chores or you'll be in trouble.
adjective
  1. Not tight; loose or relaxed.
    • Her grip on the handle was slack, and it slipped.
    • The rope was slack, so the tent sagged.
    • Make sure the belt isn't too slack or it won't hold your pants up.
  2. Not busy; having little activity or work.
    • It was a slack period at the store, with no customers in sight.
    • Business is usually slack during the winter months.
    • The office is slack on Fridays, so many people leave early.
  3. Careless or lazy in doing one's work or duty.
    • Don't be slack about checking your work for errors.
    • He was criticized for being slack in his studies.
    • The security guard was slack and let someone sneak in.
Synonyms