Slacked: meaning, definitions and examples
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slacked
[ slækt ]
reduce tension
To slacken means to make something less tight or tense. This term is often used in reference to ropes, lines, or mechanical devices. Additionally, it can be applied in a more abstract sense, such as reducing effort or intensity in various activities. People may slack off, implying they are not working as hard as they should. This term can also suggest a decrease in responsibility or commitment over time.
Synonyms
diminish, loosen, reduce, relax
Examples of usage
- She slacked the rope to give the boy more room.
- He decided to slack the pace of his running.
- After the urgent tasks were done, they slackened their focus.
- The team has slacked in their efforts to meet the deadline.
Translations
Translations of the word "slacked" in other languages:
🇵🇹 relaxado
🇮🇳 आलसी
🇩🇪 nachlässig
- träge
- faul
🇮🇩 malas
🇺🇦 розслаблений
🇵🇱 rozluźniony
🇯🇵 怠けた
🇫🇷 relâché
🇪🇸 relajado
🇹🇷 gevşek
🇰🇷 느슨한
🇸🇦 مسترخي
🇨🇿 uvolněný
🇸🇰 uvoľnený
🇨🇳 放松的
🇸🇮 sproščen
🇮🇸 slakaður
🇰🇿 бос
🇬🇪 სუსტი
🇦🇿 rahat
🇲🇽 relajado
Etymology
The verb 'slack' originates from the Old English word 'slæc', which meant 'lax, loose, or negligent'. It can be traced further back to the Proto-Germanic '*slakaz', which had a similar meaning of looseness or lack of tightness. The root also has connections to the Old Norse 'slaka', meaning 'to relax or let go'. Over the centuries, the modern usage of 'slack' has expanded beyond physical settings, entering the lexicon of work ethics as well, where it describes a reduced effort or commitment. By the early 19th century, it became common to use the term in contexts that indicate both a physical state of being loose as well as a metaphorical state of reduced effort in personal and professional activities. This duality showcases the evolution of language where physical and abstract meanings intertwine.