cut some slack
cut some slack
Meaning:
- give additional freedom to someone
- not judge someone severely
- give someone a break
- make some allowances for someone
- allow a person to something that is usually not allowed
Example:
- I know he is not up to the mark right now but let's cut him some slack. He's new to this environment and needs time to adjust.
- Teenagers have a mind of their own. Its best to cut them some slack and let them do what they are doing instead of enforcing things on them.
- Had he explained the situation to me, I would have cut him some slack and not have been so hard on him.
- Since it was the last day of school before the vacations, the teachers cut the students some slack and did not have any serious discussions in class.
- I was really busy last week and couldn't finish the report. Cut me some slack and I'll do it by tomorrow.
Origin:
The origin of this phrase can be alluded to the docking of ships, where “give me some slack” meant to loosen the rope. A similar phrase, with a similar meaning but slightly different form – “cut slack for” – was used in 1855 by Frederick Douglas in his book My Bondage and My Freedom.