slack off
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb: - To become less active, intense, or diligent; to reduce one's effort or work rate. It describes a decrease in the amount or intensity of activity, often implying a deliberate or negligent reduction in effort.
Usage
This verb is typically used to describe a person becoming less productive or a phenomenon decreasing in force. It often carries a negative connotation of laziness or shirking responsibility when applied to work or effort. - It is an intransitive verb (does not take a direct object). - Commonly used in informal and professional contexts to criticize a drop in performance.
Examples
- Work/Effort Context:
- After the manager left, some employees started to slack off.
- You can't slack off now; the project deadline is next week.
- Intensity Context:
- The heavy rain finally began to slack off in the afternoon.
- The wind slacked off, allowing the boats to return to shore.
Advanced Usage
- "to slack off on something": To reduce effort or diligence regarding a specific task or duty.
- He has been slacking off on his homework lately.
- The company cannot afford to slack off on quality control.
Variants and Related Words
- Slack (verb): To be or become slack; to loosen. (e.g., )
- Slacker (noun): A person who avoids work or effort; an idler.
- Slack (adjective): Not tight or tense; loose. (e.g., ). Note: This is a different meaning from the phrasal verb.
Synonyms
- Ease up: To reduce in intensity or pressure.
- Let up: To diminish or stop.
- Abate: To become less strong or severe (more formal).
- Coast: To proceed without making much effort.
- Shirk: To avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).
Related Phrasal Verbs
- Slacken off: A more formal variant with the same meaning as 'slack off'.
- Production slackened off during the holiday period.
Related Idioms
- Rest on one's laurels: To be so satisfied with past successes that one makes no further effort. (This is a specific type of slacking off based on previous achievement).
- After winning the championship, the team rested on its laurels and slacked off in training.
Verb
- become less in amount or intensity
- The storm abated
- The rain let up after a few hours