pick up the slack

pick up the slack

To do an extra amount of work that someone else is unable or unwilling to do. I'm going to need you to pick up the slack around the house when the baby arrives, because I'm going to literally have my hands full. The fourth member of our team has been totally unreliable, so the rest of us have had to pick up the slack.
See also: pick, slack, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • take up the slack
  • slack up
  • slack up (on someone or something)
  • slackmaster
  • slack master
  • hold no brief for
  • hold no brief for (someone or something)
  • hold no brief for somebody/something
  • hold no brief for something
  • be past caring
References in periodicals archive
Eyes don't repair damaged photoreceptors because usually there are millions of others to pick up the slack. For the blind mice, Swaroop and other researchers would have to figure out how to make new rod cells.
The surviving neurons somehow pick up the slack, the investigators note.
*During a strike, it is up to management personnel to pick up the slack. They should be instructed on various basic procedures so they can assist as required.
School needs to pick up the slack in an increasingly segregated society so that all students can achieve their potential and sustain our democracy.
We are the ones who will pick up the slack with big rises in council tax.
The English skills of the Chinese can only take them so far with sloppy American handwriting, and Native Americans can pick up the slack without leaving the reservation.
With China having its hands full, don't count on the European or Japanese economies to pick up the slack. Europe seems poised to join the One Percent Growth Club.
At that point, when it's too late to hire additional in-house help, internal staff will have to pick up the slack. That can affect delivery and damage your reputation.