Cut yourself some slack
Cut yourself some slack
cut some slack
1 cut some slack
2 cut/give someone some slack
3 cut (someone) some slack
4 cut somebody some slack
5 slack
He showed himself as a very slack workman. — Он оказался очень нерадивым работником.
After such a trip he felt absolutely slack. — После такой поездки он чувствовал себя совершенно разбитым.
to keep a slack hand / rein — опустить поводья
to take / pick up the slack — восполнять нехватку
to hire a temp to take up the slack — нанять временного сотрудника, чтобы восполнить нехватку персонала
If Sue gets a job, Mike will have to take up the slack at home. — Если Сью устроится на работу, Майку придётся вести домашнее хозяйство.
to cut smb. some slack амер. — быть менее строгим к кому-л.; давать кому-л. Поблажку
Take the horse to the stable, and slack his girths. — Отведи лошадь в конюшню и ослабь подпругу.
I slacked my pace. — Я замедлил шаг.
At the end of the academic year he felt very tired and slacked his efforts in his studies. — К концу учебного года он очень устал и снизил интенсивность занятий.
The wind slacked off a bit. — Ветер немного стих.
The rain slacked and died. — Дождь пошёл реже, а потом совсем прекратился.
The negotiations slack, that’s quite dangerous. — Переговоры идут вяло, и это довольно опасно.
6 slack
to cut [give\] smb. some slack — давать кому-л. послабление
After determining the critical path, the manager can compute the slack time for each activity. — После вычисления критического пути менеджер может рассчитать резерв времени для каждого процесса.
7 cut slack
8 loose
end без определенной работы, без дела at a
end в беспорядке to be on the
кутить, вести беспутный образ жизни
свободный;
to break loose вырваться на свободу;
сорваться с цепи;
to come loose развязаться;
отделиться
выход, проявление (чувств и т. п.) ;
to give a loose (to) дать волю (чувству) to give a
to one’s tongue развязать язык loose свободно и пр.
выстрелить (тж. loose off)
выход, проявление (чувств и т. п.) ;
to give a loose (to) дать волю (чувству)
не (-плотно) прикрепленный;
болтающийся, шатающийся;
расхлябанный;
обвислый;
loose end свободный конец (каната, троса и т. п.) ;
loose leaf вкладной лист
неплотный (о ткани) ;
рыхлый (о почве)
несвязанный, плохо упакованный, не упакованный в ящик, коробку
неточный, неопределенный, слишком общий
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык
ослаблять, делать просторнее (пояс и т. п.)
просторный, широкий (об одежде)
развязывать;
отвязывать;
распускать (волосы) ;
открывать (задвижку)
распущенный человек;
loose morals распущенные нравы
свободный;
to break loose вырваться на свободу;
сорваться с цепи;
to come loose развязаться;
отделиться
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.) unloose: unloose, unloosen = loose
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.)
не (-плотно) прикрепленный;
болтающийся, шатающийся;
расхлябанный;
обвислый;
loose end свободный конец (каната, троса и т. п.) ;
loose leaf вкладной лист
распущенный человек;
loose morals распущенные нравы
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык
translation небрежный, неточный перевод
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.)
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык (to ride) with a
rein свободно пустить лошадь
См. также в других словарях:
cut some slack — ► cut some slack N. Amer. informal allow (someone) some leeway in conduct. Main Entry: ↑slack … English terms dictionary
cut some slack — cut (someone) 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… … New idioms dictionary
cut some slack — cut (someone) some slack see ↑slack, 2 • • • Main Entry: ↑cut … Useful english dictionary
cut some slack — idiom. grant somebody time or space to accomplish something; leave somebody alone. Cut me some slack. I ve had a long, hard day … English slang
give/cut some slack — give/cut (someone) some slack informal : to treat (someone) in a less harsh or critical way Would you give/cut me some slack? I m doing the best I can. • • • Main Entry: ↑slack … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack — (esp N American informal) To allow someone to act without undue criticism or pressure • • • Main Entry: ↑slack * * * cut/give/someone some slack informal phrase to be less strict with someone … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack — cut (someone) 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… … New idioms dictionary
cut somebody some slack — cut sb some ˈslack idiom (informal) to be less critical of sb or less strict with them • Hey, cut him some slack! He s doing his best! Main entry: ↑slackidiom … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack N. Amer. — cut someone some slack N. Amer. informal allow someone some leeway in their conduct. → slack … English new terms dictionary
cut someone some slack — To relax a rule or make an allowance, as in allowing someone more time to finish something … The small dictionary of idiomes
cut someone some slack — If you relax a rule, treat a person less severely or allow someone to do something which is normally not permitted, you cut them some slack. Our parents are very strict; I wish they d cut us some slack now and then … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
What Does Cut Me Some Slack Mean?
Home » Phrase and Idiom Dictionary » What Does Cut Me Some Slack Mean?
Cut Me Some Slack Meaning
Definition: Give one some leniency.
Origin of Cut Some Slack
This idiom is informal and originated around the mid-1900s. It alludes to the slackening of tautness in a rope or sail.
The etymology of slack is interesting. In the 1300s, slack meant cessation of pain or grief. However, that is not where the idiom comes from. Rather, it comes from its other definition, the loose part of a sail or rope, which comes from the late-1700s.
Therefore to cut someone some slack means to loosen a tight restriction. In this idiom, cut has the meaning of give. This could amount to giving someone a less harsh punishment for a crime, or even allowing someone some leeway in following the rules.
Examples of Cut Some Slack
In this conversation, a mother and daughter are arguing about the daughter’s schedule.
Daughter: Guess what! I tried out for cheerleading, and I made the team!
Mother: Really? Of course, I’m proud of you, but I’m not sure that you have the time to be on the cheer squad.
Daughter: Why not? I have great grades, and I don’t have any extracurricular activities.
Mother: How will you have time to keep your grades up and continue to improve at playing the violin if you are always at cheer practice?
Daughter: Cut me some slack, Mom! I always do everything you want. Let me do one thing that I want to do.
In this example, two coworkers are discussing the strict rules at their workplace.
Dave: I can’t believe we can’t even take unscheduled bathroom breaks anymore!
Ben: I know. These rules are way too harsh. We’re good workers. They should trust us by giving us some more flexibility.
Dave: I agree. I think that if they cut us some slack that productivity would actually improve.
More Examples
This excerpt is from an advice column.
This excerpt is a caption from an article about a ghost dog.
Summary
The phrase cut me some slack is another way to give me more flexibility or allow me more leeway.
cut some slack
Смотреть что такое «cut some slack» в других словарях:
cut some slack — ► cut some slack N. Amer. informal allow (someone) some leeway in conduct. Main Entry: ↑slack … English terms dictionary
cut some slack — cut (someone) 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… … New idioms dictionary
cut some slack — cut (someone) some slack see ↑slack, 2 • • • Main Entry: ↑cut … Useful english dictionary
cut some slack — idiom. grant somebody time or space to accomplish something; leave somebody alone. Cut me some slack. I ve had a long, hard day … English slang
give/cut some slack — give/cut (someone) some slack informal : to treat (someone) in a less harsh or critical way Would you give/cut me some slack? I m doing the best I can. • • • Main Entry: ↑slack … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack — (esp N American informal) To allow someone to act without undue criticism or pressure • • • Main Entry: ↑slack * * * cut/give/someone some slack informal phrase to be less strict with someone … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack — cut (someone) 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… … New idioms dictionary
cut somebody some slack — cut sb some ˈslack idiom (informal) to be less critical of sb or less strict with them • Hey, cut him some slack! He s doing his best! Main entry: ↑slackidiom … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack N. Amer. — cut someone some slack N. Amer. informal allow someone some leeway in their conduct. → slack … English new terms dictionary
cut someone some slack — To relax a rule or make an allowance, as in allowing someone more time to finish something … The small dictionary of idiomes
cut someone some slack — If you relax a rule, treat a person less severely or allow someone to do something which is normally not permitted, you cut them some slack. Our parents are very strict; I wish they d cut us some slack now and then … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Etymology of «cut someone some slack»
Teenagers. All the literature tells you one thing and one thing only – that whatever they are doing, give them a break, cut them some slack, it’s normal.
I’m curious about the origins of to cut some slack. I know slacks are American English for trousers or pants, and a slacker is a lazy person. But what is a slack and how does one «cut» it?
7 Answers 7
It is possible that the set phrase «cut someone some slack» is simply a metaphorical use of cut combined with a metaphorical use of slack:
1.0 Not taut or held tightly in position; loose:
2.0 Having or showing laziness or negligence:
Slack can intuitively apply to any standard metaphorically: neglect your standard or do not hold on tightly to your standard.
3.2 Separate (something) into two; sever:
Cut can intuitively apply to any standard metaphorically: Separate a standard for me. The two words complement each other, so that Cut me some slack renders the meaning:
«Separate some loosely held standard for me.»
There are many plausible imaginative practical scenarios for metaphorical application:
There is no conclusive evidence establishing any of these scenarios as the etymological source for Cut me some slack. It is quite possible that the broad practical use of the phrase cut slack established the metaphorical application as a set phrase. If there was a single practical source of the metaphorical application, the cooperage application is most likely, for two reasons: it establishes an acceptable lower standard, and it was used far more extensively than any other practical application.
Coopers, maintained a stock of two qualities of staves to build their barrels: high quality tight staves for barrels to hold liquid goods; and low quality slack staves, for barrels to hold dry goods:
The terms «tight cooperage stock» and «slack cooperage stock» are applied by the trade to staves, beading and hoops used by coopers in the manufacture or assembly of hogshead barrels, kegs, kits and firkins. Tight cooperage stock pertains to containers for liquids, and slack cooperage stock to containers for solids.
The slack cooperage industry was nearly twice as extensive as the tight cooperage industry, producing 50% more value with a significantly less valuable product:
The slack end of the business is the larger, judged by the quantity of wood required to manufacture the product. The value of the slack stock used in the country is nearly fifty percent more than the value of tight material.
The forestry industry also referred to lower quality timber as slack cooperage blocks. To cut slack cooperage blocks referred to harvesting specific species of trees that meet lower slack cooperage quality specifications.
Generally several cuttings are made. In hardwood forests, the buyer or the owner usually takes out sawlogs or veneer blocks first. He might cut slack cooperage blocks or cross ties next, and finally make pulp- wood and fuel from the tops.
Landowners, brokers, foresters, loggers, sawyers, suppliers, coopers, merchants, advertisers, machinists and government regulators in America all expressed a common notion of cut slack as lower acceptable quality standard. When a merchant said to his cooper, «Make me a slack [barrel],» they both understood that the quality expectation was significantly less than a tight barrel. When a cooper said to his supplier, «Bring me some slack [staves],» they both understood that the quality expectation was significantly less than tight staves. When the supplier said to his sawyer, «Cut me some slack [stock],» they both understood that the quality expectation was significantly less than tight stock. When the sawyer said to his logger, «Cut me some slack [logs],» they both understood that the quality expectation was significantly less than tight logs.
Advertisers made clear distinctions between all things tight and all things slack. Machinists designed and built separate mills to cut slack cooperage materials:
Mills for the manufacture of slack stock are of various types.
The Federal Government established separate regulations for knife-cut slack staves.
In America, at least nine extensive interrelated industries were routinely exposed to the literal expression: cut slack with the connotation of acceptably lower quality standards. The cultural significance of cooperage from the 18th through 20th centuries supports a legitimate assumption:
A a metaphorical application of the prevalent cooperage expression:
This is precisely what people mean when they say, «Cut me some slack!» metaphorically:
Your tight adherence to a higher standard is not necessary; a lower standard is acceptable!
The cooperage metaphor cannot be sited conclusive as the source of «Cut me some slack,» but at minimum, the cooperage lingo extensively supported and reinforce the intuitive metaphorical application of cut slack in the culture, making the set phrase more suitable as an idiomatic catch phrase.
Currently in Google Book search, the earliest confirmed use of «Cut [x] some slack» was the testimony of a young person explaining his perception of police aggression, transcribed in 1966:
Just the colored cop will do all the, you know, raising sand. Other cop[s] will just sit back, you know. And he’ll try and cut you some slack, but the colored cop won’t, you know.
cut him some slack
1 cut/give someone some slack
2 loose
end без определенной работы, без дела at a
end в беспорядке to be on the
кутить, вести беспутный образ жизни
свободный;
to break loose вырваться на свободу;
сорваться с цепи;
to come loose развязаться;
отделиться
выход, проявление (чувств и т. п.) ;
to give a loose (to) дать волю (чувству) to give a
to one’s tongue развязать язык loose свободно и пр.
выстрелить (тж. loose off)
выход, проявление (чувств и т. п.) ;
to give a loose (to) дать волю (чувству)
не (-плотно) прикрепленный;
болтающийся, шатающийся;
расхлябанный;
обвислый;
loose end свободный конец (каната, троса и т. п.) ;
loose leaf вкладной лист
неплотный (о ткани) ;
рыхлый (о почве)
несвязанный, плохо упакованный, не упакованный в ящик, коробку
неточный, неопределенный, слишком общий
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык
ослаблять, делать просторнее (пояс и т. п.)
просторный, широкий (об одежде)
развязывать;
отвязывать;
распускать (волосы) ;
открывать (задвижку)
распущенный человек;
loose morals распущенные нравы
свободный;
to break loose вырваться на свободу;
сорваться с цепи;
to come loose развязаться;
отделиться
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.) unloose: unloose, unloosen = loose
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.)
не (-плотно) прикрепленный;
болтающийся, шатающийся;
расхлябанный;
обвислый;
loose end свободный конец (каната, троса и т. п.) ;
loose leaf вкладной лист
распущенный человек;
loose morals распущенные нравы
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык
translation небрежный, неточный перевод
тех. холостой;
loose bowels склонность к поносу;
to sit loose (to smth.) не проявлять интереса (к чему-л.)
освобождать, давать волю;
to loose one’s hold (of smth.) выпустить (что-л.) из рук;
wine loosed his tongue вино развязало ему язык (to ride) with a
rein свободно пустить лошадь
См. также в других словарях:
cut somebody some slack — cut sb some ˈslack idiom (informal) to be less critical of sb or less strict with them • Hey, cut him some slack! He s doing his best! Main entry: ↑slackidiom … Useful english dictionary
cut someone some slack — verb To make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely Hes the new kid on the block and doesnt know the way we do things around here yet. Cut him some slack and let him learn from this. Syn: give someone a break, give someone… … Wiktionary
cut me some slack — give me more time, give me more freedom You may be asking too much of your son. Cut him some slack … English idioms
cut someone some slack — (esp N American informal) To allow someone to act without undue criticism or pressure • • • Main Entry: ↑slack * * * cut/give/someone some slack informal phrase to be less strict with someone … Useful english dictionary
give someone some slack — cut/give/someone some slack informal phrase to be less strict with someone Cut him a little slack – his father just died. Thesaurus: to give someone permission to do somethingsynonym Main entry … Useful english dictionary
slack — I UK [slæk] / US adjective Word forms slack : adjective slack comparative slacker superlative slackest 1) loose and not pulled tight The fence consisted of two slack strands of barbed wire. The rope suddenly went slack. Her muscles felt slack. 2) … English dictionary
slack — slack1 [ slæk ] adjective 1. ) loose and not pulled tight: The fence consisted of two slack strands of barbed wire. The rope suddenly went slack. Her muscles felt slack. 2. ) not taking enough care to make sure something is done well: slack… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Scott Peterson — Infobox Person name = Scott Peterson image size = caption = birth date = Birth date and age|1972|10|24|df=y birth place = death date = death place = occupation = spouse = Laci Peterson (1997 2002) parents = Jacqueline Helen Latham and Lee Arthur… … Wikipedia
give one enough rope — verb To allow one to function unhindered, or without further overbearing oversight. Syn: cut one some slack, cut him some slack … Wiktionary
Clubhouses (South Park episode) — Infobox Television episode Title = Clubhouses Series = South Park Caption = Stan and Kyle s poorly made treehouse, built only for playing Truth or Dare Season = 2 Episode = 25 Airdate = September 23, 1998 Production = 212 Writer = Trey Parker… … Wikipedia
Clubhouses (South Park) — Clubhouses South Park episode Stan and Kyle s poorly made treehouse, built only for playing Truth or Dare … Wikipedia