Welcome to our delightfully engaging dictionary of the overly familiar! Our first exhibit is the ever-popular “Cut Some Slack.”
🎣 Cut Some Slack
Definition
To give someone more time or more of a chance, to ease up on someone. This term, dating from the mid-1900s, alludes to a slackening of tautness in a rope or sail.
Synonyms
- Give a break
- Show leniency
- Go easy on
Antonyms
- Be tough on
- Crack down
- Be strict with
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “I’m tempted to create a Slackbot that responds to every request with ‘How about no?’ – Ah, but I’ve vowed to cut some slack!”
Proverbs and Expressions
- “Softly, softly, catchee monkey.”
- “Give others time and room, for patience paves the way.”
Literature and Cultural References
- Books: Alibi by Sandra Brown (1999). Example Use: “Don’t lean on him yet; let’s cut him some slack for now.”
- Movies: In Forrest Gump, we often see Jenny imploring to cut Forrest some slack.
- Music: “Easy” by The Commodores. Sometimes you just need to cut everything some slack and take it easy.
- Poetry: “Grant unto others what ye would hope” - though not a direct quote from a poem, surely, it encapsulates the spirit.
Related and Similar Terms
- Give a lot of latitude – To give someone ample freedom or space to act.
- Hold your horses – To wait, be patient (similar in spirit, but slightly different in usage).
- Give a free pass – Frequently bending the rules for someone’s benefit.
Catchphrase
“Before you jump to conclusions, perhaps it’s best to cut someone some slack; after all, everyone trips on life’s uncharted paths.”
Fondly framed for you by Captain Phrases McSpeech, October 2023. Remember, “A little slack goes a long way!”
### Which of these means "ease off and give someone more room"?
- [x] Cut some slack
- [ ] Give them a noodle
- [ ] Pull up your socks
- [ ] Give a tomato
> **Explanation:** "Cut some slack" is the real deal. The others are, let's say, more on the noodle side of realism.
### This idiom comes from a concept tied to:
- [ ] Rope-making
- [x] Sailing
- [ ] Pottery
- [ ] Cooking
> **Explanation:** It alludes to slackening the tautness of a rope or sail, hence the nautical roots.
### True or False: "Cut some slack" dates back to the 1700s
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** Actually, it dates from the mid-1900s! More recent than you might have guessed.
### Which suggests leniency?
- [x] Give a break
- [ ] Be tough on
- [ ] Crack the whip
- [ ] Tighten the reins
> **Explanation:** "Give a break" means to stop being tough and allow some slack.
