slack

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slack /sl'æk/ (slacker slackest slacks slacking slacked)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is slack is loose and not firmly stretched or tightly in position.
The boy's jaw went slack.
2 [ADJ]
A slack period is one in which there is not much work or activity.
The workload can be evened out, instead of the shop having busy times and slack periods.
= quiet
3 [ADJ]
Someone who is slack in their work does not do it properly.
Many publishers have simply become far too slack.
● slackness [N-UNCOUNT]
He accused the government of slackness and complacency.
4 [VERB] only cont, V
If someone is slacking, they are not working as hard as they should.
He had never let a foreman see him slacking.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P
Slack off means the same as slack.
If someone slacks off, Bill comes down hard.
5 [PHRASE] V inflects
To take up the slack or pick up the slack means to do or provide something that another person or organization is no longer doing or providing.
As major airlines give up less-traveled routes, smaller planes are picking up the slack.

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