take up the slack

Definitions

1. To tighten something that is slack so that it is taut.
2. To do work that would otherwise be left undone.
3. To provide extra resources that are not met by normal sources.
4. To act as a slack variable, converting an inequality into an equality.
5. To consume something that would otherwise go to waste.

Equivalents

1 more languages

Suomiottaa ohjat käsiinsä

Examples

“You need⟳ to take⟳ up the slack in your cables so shifters and brakes function properly.”

“To tighten⟳ the wire, thread a stick⟳ through both loops of wire; by twisting the stick⟳ you will take⟳ up the slack in the wires, pulling them taut.”

“The engines laboured, straining between the forces of tide and wind to take⟳ up the slack on the huge chains and pull⟳ the ferry across the water.”

“A production never has enough time or enough money. Someone has to take⟳ up the slack.”

“When fighting at the front grew intense and casualties got heavy, traveling teams of surgeons were called in temporarily to take⟳ up the slack.”

“It is not unusual in turnaround situations for the turnaround manager to eliminate up to 20 percent of the jobs within the company. Is that tough? Of course it is, and the people who remain⟳ have⟳ to take⟳ up the slack, but it is far more preferable than closing the doors.”

“So he had doubled his efforts around the place⟳ to take⟳ up the slack.”

“As oil production worldwide plateaus and falters, other fossil fuels are coming under strain⟳, and no alternative — renewable or otherwise — shows any sign⟳ of being able to take⟳ up the slack.”

“...and local farms were not productive enough to take⟳ up the slack.”

“We have⟳ but only one life to live⟳ I take⟳ you back, you take⟳ me back I come⟳ up short and you take⟳ up the slack”

“This does not of course prevent⟳ people from acting strategically — deciding not to contribute⟳ in the hope⟳ that others will take⟳ up the slack. But it will be clear in these situations that such people are behaving unfairly and that prima facie at least, those who decide⟳ to take⟳ up the slack are doing more than justice requires.”

“A slack variable is a real variable which is introduced to take⟳ up the slack in an inequality constraint, i.e., to convert an inequality constraint to an equality constraint.”

“It is the nature of monopoly capitalism to create⟳ unused industrial capacity and unemployment. The arms economy is an effort to take⟳ up the slack in this unused capacity.”

“Additionally, new export markets may be developed that will take⟳ up the slack left by falling demand⟳ in the United States.”

“Honor gained through euergetism (i.e., paying for public works that benefited the community), paying to build⟳ a school or theater or temple at home, helped take⟳ up the slack.”

CEFR level