slack
gb/slˈæk/ us/slˈæk/
B2
Inglés
~ 9100
laza, gyenge, csendes, hanyag, laza rész, belógás, holtjáték, csendes időszak, holtszezon, tartalék, kieső munka, mozgástér, csökken, alábbhagy, enyhül, lanyhul, meglazít, enged
B2
1
laza
A2
Patrón de uso:
a slack [rope/line/belt/etc.]
Make sure the rope isn’t slack before you start to climb.
Mielőtt mászni kezdesz, győződj meg róla, hogy a kötél nem laza.
The cable was too slack and kept slipping off the pulley.
A kábel túl laza volt, és folyton lecsúszott a csigáról.
Leave a little slack in the wire so it doesn’t snap when the tree moves.
His backpack straps were slack, so the bag bounced around as he walked.
The safety net had gone slack and needed to be tightened.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The rope is slack, so pull it harder.
A kötél laza, húzd meg erősebben.
My belt was slack and my pants started to fall down.
Az övem túl laza volt, ezért elkezdett lecsúszni a nadrágom.
There is some slack in the line between the two poles.
Tighten the string; it is too slack.
Do not climb if the safety line feels slack.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use 'slack' to describe a relaxed person (e.g., *I feel slack today*). For feelings, use 'tired', 'lazy', or 'relaxed'. 'Slack' in this sense describes physical things like rope, wire, or clothing, not mood.
Significado
loose, not tight or tense
Colocaciones
slack rope
|slack line
|slack cable
|slack belt
|leave some slack
|a bit of slack
Sinónimos
loose (The most common general word for not tight; slightly broader and more frequent than 'slack'.)
Antónimos
tight (Describes something pulled firmly so there is no slack or looseness.)
Temas
daily life
|objects
|movement
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Loose and not pulled tight.
Not pulled tight; hanging or lying loosely instead of being stretched or tense.
C1
2
Patrón de uso:
[business/sales/demand] is slack
Sales are usually slack just after the holidays.
Az ünnepek után közvetlenül általában gyengék az eladások.
The restaurant is always slack in the middle of the afternoon.
Délután közepén mindig csendes az étterem.
Construction has been slack this year because of higher interest rates.
The job market remains slack despite recent government spending.
Tourist numbers are slack during the rainy season.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Business is slack in winter for this small hotel.
Télen gyenge a forgalom ebben a kis szállodában.
The shop was slack, so the staff cleaned the floor.
Kicsi volt a forgalom a boltban, ezért a személyzet felmosta a padlót.
Demand for new cars is slack this year.
It is a slack period, so many workers take vacation.
The market was slack, and prices fell.
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse 'slack' with 'slow' for physical movement (e.g., *He walked at a slack pace*). In modern English, 'slack' for low activity is mainly used about business, markets, sales, or workplaces, not about people’s speed.
Significado
showing little activity or demand
Colocaciones
slack demand
|slack market
|slack season
|slack period
|slack trading
|slack sales
Sinónimos
slow (Commonly used of business or trade when there are few customers or little activity.)
Antónimos
brisk (Often describes business that is busy and active, with strong demand.)
Temas
business
|economy
|work
Definición
Not very busy; with little work, sales, or movement.
Having less activity, work, or demand than usual; not busy.
C1
3
Patrón de uso:
slack [management/supervision/controls/attitude]
The report blamed slack safety standards for the accident.
A jelentés a laza biztonsági előírásokat okolta a balesetért.
Security at the warehouse was slack, and several items were stolen.
A raktárban laza volt a biztonsági ellenőrzés, és több tárgyat elloptak.
Management has been slack about enforcing the new policies.
Slack supervision allowed the project to go over budget.
His slack approach to deadlines frustrated the rest of the team.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
The teacher was slack about homework, so many students did not do it.
A tanár laza volt a házi feladattal kapcsolatban, ezért sok diák nem csinálta meg.
Slack safety rules can cause serious problems.
A laza biztonsági szabályok komoly problémákat okozhatnak.
Her boss said her work had been slack lately.
The company was slack in checking the quality of its products.
Parents should not be too slack with young children.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes use 'lazy' instead of 'slack' with things like 'rules' or 'security'. 'Lazy' usually describes people, while 'slack' can describe both people and systems or standards that are not strict enough.
Significado
careless or not strict enough
Colocaciones
slack attitude
|slack supervision
|slack management
|slack security
|slack safety standards
|slack discipline
Sinónimos
careless (General word for not paying enough attention; 'slack' often suggests laziness or low standards over time.)
Antónimos
strict (Describes rules or people that are very careful and do not allow low standards.)
Temas
work
|behavior
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Definición
Not careful or strict enough; not working hard or watching something closely.
Showing too little attention, effort, or strictness, especially in work, rules, or standards.
SUSTANTIVO
B2
4
Patrón de uso:
leave/take up [the] slack in [something]
Take up the slack in the rope before you start pulling.
Mielőtt húzni kezdesz, szedd be a kötél laza részét.
There’s too much slack in the cable, so it keeps catching on the floor.
Túl nagy volt a kábel belógása, ezért folyton fennakadt a padlón.
He pulled the slack through the pulley to tighten the sail.
Leave a little slack in the cord so the device can be moved.
The climber checked that there was enough slack in the line for his next move.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Please pull the slack out of the rope.
Kérlek, húzd feszesre a kötelet.
There is some slack in the chain, so the door will not close well.
Van egy kis holtjáték a láncban, ezért az ajtó nem záródik rendesen.
She left a bit of slack in the wire behind the TV.
I held the slack while he tied the knot.
They took up the slack to keep the tent tight.
Error frecuente:
Learners may say *a slack* when they mean the loose part (e.g., *cut off a slack*). In this sense, 'slack' is usually uncountable: 'cut off the slack', 'there is some slack in the rope'.
Significado
loose part of rope or line
Colocaciones
leave some slack
|take up the slack
|pull the slack out
|the slack in the rope
|no slack in the line
Sinónimos
looseness (A general word for not being tight; 'slack' usually refers to a specific loose section of rope, wire, etc.)
Antónimos
tension (Refers to the tight pulling force in rope, wire, or similar materials, the opposite of having slack.)
Temas
objects
|movement
|tools
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
The part of a rope, wire, or similar thing that is not tight and hangs loose.
The loose or extra length of something like rope, wire, or cable that is not pulled tight.
SUSTANTIVO
C1
5
holtszezon
B2
Patrón de uso:
during the slack / a slack in [activity/sales/etc.]
Many hotels close during the slack to save on costs.
Sok szálloda bezár a holtszezonban, hogy csökkentse a költségeit.
We usually carry out maintenance work in the winter slack.
A karbantartási munkákat általában a téli holtszezonban végezzük.
The factory hires temporary staff to cover busy times and reduces shifts in the slack.
The fishing industry endures a long slack before the high season begins.
The company survived by cutting expenses during a long slack in orders.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
During the slack, the shop has very few customers.
A csendes időszakban nagyon kevés vásárló van a boltban.
The restaurant closes for one month in the winter slack.
Az étterem a téli holtszezonban egy hónapra bezár.
They do repair work in the slack, when business is quiet.
There was a slack in sales last year.
In the slack, workers sometimes take extra days off.
Error frecuente:
Learners may try to say *in the slack time* when native speakers more often say 'during the slack' or use adjectives like 'quiet period' or 'slow season'.
Significado
period of low activity
Colocaciones
the slack season
|the winter slack
|a slack in demand
|during the slack
|summer slack
Sinónimos
lull (Suggests a quiet or calm period in activity; 'slack' is more often used about business or trade.)
Antónimos
peak (Refers to a time of maximum activity or demand, opposite of a slack period.)
Temas
business
|work
|time
Definición
A time when there is not much work or business.
A period of time when activity, work, or demand is lower than usual.
SUSTANTIVO
C1
6
Patrón de uso:
pick up/take up [the] slack
With so many staff off sick, the rest of the team had to pick up the slack.
Mivel olyan sok munkatárs volt betegállományban, a csapat többi tagjának kellett átvennie a kieső munkát.
There’s still some slack in the budget for unexpected costs.
Még van némi tartalék a költségvetésben a váratlan kiadásokra.
Freelancers were hired to take up the slack during the busy period.
The new intern helped absorb some of the slack in the department.
Our schedule has no slack, so any delay will affect the deadline.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
When she left, her coworkers had to pick up the slack.
Amikor elment, a munkatársainak kellett átvenniük a kieső munkát.
We have some slack in the budget for extra travel.
Van némi tartalék a költségvetésünkben további utazásra.
The new worker took up the slack in the office.
There is no slack in this plan; every minute is used.
The manager asked another team to cover the slack.
Error frecuente:
Learners sometimes think 'slack' here always means 'laziness'. In business, 'slack' can simply mean unused time, money, or people, even if no one is lazy.
Significado
unused capacity or extra work
Colocaciones
pick up the slack
|take up the slack
|no slack in the system
|slack in the budget
|slack in the schedule
Sinónimos
spare capacity (A neutral, mainly business term for resources that are not used; 'slack' is shorter and more idiomatic.)
Antónimos
full capacity (Describes a situation where there is no slack because all resources are fully used.)
Temas
work
|business
|management
Definición
Work, time, or money that is free or not used, which someone else can use or must do.
Extra capacity, time, or resources that are not being used, or the work that remains to be done, especially that others may have to do.
VERBO
C2
FORMAL
7
Patrón de uso:
[activity/demand/effort] slacks
Consumer demand usually slacks after the holiday season.
Az ünnepi időszak után általában csökken a fogyasztói kereslet.
As the afternoon wore on, the pace of work slacked.
Ahogy telt a délután, lassult a munka tempója.
Interest in the project slacked once the funding was cut.
Enrollment slacked when tuition fees increased.
The storm slacked slightly before reaching the coast.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Sales slacked after the price went up.
Az áremelés után csökkentek az eladások.
His effort slacked when he heard he might lose his job.
Alábbhagyott az igyekezete, amikor meghallotta, hogy elveszítheti az állását.
Activity in the shop slacked in the evening.
Public interest slacked as the story became old.
The rain slacked for a short time.
Error frecuente:
Learners often use 'slack off' instead, which focuses on people not working hard. Plain 'slack' as a verb is more formal and is used about things like demand, interest, or activity, not usually about a person directly.
Significado
become slower or weaker
Colocaciones
demand slacks
|interest slacks
|effort slacks
|growth slacks
|pace slacks
Sinónimos
diminish (Formal verb for becoming less; 'slack' is more often used about demand, pace, or effort.)
Antónimos
intensify (Means to become stronger or more active, opposite to 'slack' in this sense.)
Temas
business
|change
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To become less strong or active than before.
To become slower, weaker, or less active; to lessen in force or intensity.
VERBO
C2
TECHNICAL
8
Patrón de uso:
to slack [rope/line/cable/etc.]
Slack the rope a little so the load can be lowered gently.
Engedj egy kicsit a kötélen, hogy a terhet óvatosan le lehessen engedni.
The technician told the crew to slack the line before adjusting the winch.
A technikus azt mondta a csapatnak, hogy lazítsák meg a kötelet, mielőtt beállítanák a csörlőt.
You’ll need to slack the cable to remove the pulley safely.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
Slack the rope slowly until the boat is in the water.
Lassan engedj a kötélen, amíg a csónak a vízbe nem ér.
The worker slacked the line to free the box.
A munkás meglazította a kötelet, hogy kiszabadítsa a dobozt.
First, slack the cable, then move the machine.
They slacked the chain so the gate could open.
He slacked the wire to change the light.
Error frecuente:
Learners almost always say 'loosen' instead of 'slack'. This is usually fine. 'Slack' as a verb is mainly found in technical instructions or specialized contexts.
Significado
loosen something that is tight
Colocaciones
slack the rope
|slack the line
|slack the cable
|slack the chain
Sinónimos
loosen (The common general verb; 'slack' in this sense is mostly technical or in set instructions.)
Antónimos
tighten (Means to pull something tight, directly opposite to 'slack' here.)
Temas
movement
|tools
|technical
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definición
To make a rope, line, or similar thing less tight.
To make something such as a rope, line, or cable less tight; to loosen it.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
slack
AFI
GB/slˈæk/
US/slˈæk/
Sílabas y acento
slack (1 sílaba)
Stress on 1st syllable (slack)
Formas de la palabra
Adjective
- Base: slack
- Comparative: slacker
- Superlative: slackest
Noun
- Base: slack
- Plural: slack
Verb
- Base: slack
- 3rd Person Singular: slacks
- Present Participle: slacking
- Past: slacked
Familia de palabras
Expresiones
cut someone some slack
1/kˈʌt sˈʌmwˌʌn sˈʌm slˈæk/
idiom
informal
be less strict or critical
To be kinder or less strict with someone, and not judge them too hard.
Ejemplos
- He’s new here, so cut him some slack if he makes mistakes.
- The teacher decided to cut the class some slack after the fire drill.
- I know you’re stressed, but you still need to cut your kids some slack.
pick up the slack
1/pˈɪk ˈʌp ðə slˈæk/
idiom
do extra work others left
To do the work or take the responsibility that someone else should do but is not doing.
Ejemplos
- When two colleagues quit, the rest of us had to pick up the slack.
- If the government reduces support, charities will need to pick up the slack.
- Our customer service team has been picking up the slack while we hire new staff.
slack off
1/slˈæk ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
informal
reduce effort; be lazy
To work less hard or to be lazy, especially when you should be working.
Ejemplos
- You’ve been slacking off all week, and the project is now behind schedule.
- The team started to slack off once they knew the deadline had been moved.
- If you slack off in class, it will be hard to catch up later.
take up the slack
1/tˈeɪk ˈʌp ðə slˈæk/
fixed phrase
remove slack or cover gap
To remove extra slack in something like a rope, or to do extra work or use extra capacity so there is no gap.
Ejemplos
- He took up the slack in the rope before lifting the crate.
- Smaller companies have tried to take up the slack left by the big retailer’s closure.
- Automation is expected to take up the slack as the workforce shrinks.