slacken
/'slækn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make something less tight, taut, or firm; to loosen.
- To reduce the intensity, speed, or activity of something.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become less tight, taut, or firm.
- To become slower or less active.
Usage and Examples
Transitive Verb (to make something less tight or intense):
- He slackened the rope so the boat could drift. (He made the rope less tight.)
- You should slacken your grip on the steering wheel. (You should loosen your hold.)
- The manager warned the team not to slacken their efforts. (The manager warned them not to reduce their intensity.)
Intransitive Verb (to become less tight or intense):
- The sail slackened as the wind died down. (The sail became loose.)
- His pace slackened noticeably after the first mile. (His speed became slower.)
- Business usually slackens during the summer months. (Business activity usually decreases.)
Advanced Usage
- "Slacken off": This phrasal verb means to gradually reduce in intensity, speed, or amount. It often implies a decrease from a previous level of activity or effort.
- The rain began to slacken off in the afternoon. (The rain began to lessen.)
- You can't afford to slacken off now, the exam is next week. (You can't afford to reduce your effort.)
Variants and Related Words
- Slack (adj/n/v): Not tight or taut; a period of low activity; to neglect one's work.
- The rope is slack. (The rope is not tight.)
- There's a slack period after the holidays. (There's a quiet period.)
- Slackening (n): The act or process of becoming less active or tight.
- We noticed a slackening in demand. (We noticed a decrease in demand.)
Synonyms
- Loosen: To make less tight.
- Relax: To make or become less tense or rigid.
- Ease (off/up): To reduce in intensity, speed, or pressure.
- Abate: To become less strong or severe.
- Diminish: To make or become less.
Phrasal Verbs
- Slacken off: See "Advanced Usage" above.
- Slacken up: Similar to "slacken off," meaning to reduce speed or effort.
- The runner slackened up as he approached the finish line. (The runner reduced his speed.)
Related Idioms
- To take up the slack: To use something that is loose or to utilize unused resources; to compensate for a deficiency.
- When one worker left, the others had to take up the slack. (The others had to do the extra work.)
- To cut someone some slack: (Informal idiom) To treat someone less severely or critically; to give someone a break.
- Cut him some slack; he's new to the job. (Don't be so hard on him.)
Verb
- make slack as by lessening tension or firmness
- become looser or slack
- the rope slackened
- make less active or fast
- He slackened his pace as he got tired
- Don't relax your efforts now
- become slow or slower
- Production slowed