Cut Someone Some Slack

Welcome to English in a minute.

Sometimes we cut with a knife, sometimes with scissors.

But what do you use to cut slack?

Let’s find out.

Where’s Jane?

She not here yet.

She’s late. again!

And now I have to do the whole show, by myself . again!

Jonathan, calm down.

Jane has had a lot of problems lately with her family.

Let’s cut her some slack.

She is a paid professional.

So, no! No slack will be cut.

When you “cut someone some slack,” you are more forgiving of their actions than you normally would be.

The word slack, in this case, means the part of a line or a rope that hangs loosely, instead of being tight.