cutting someone some slack
Easing up on
Cutting someone some slack means giving them leeway or being less critical than you might otherwise be—easing up on expectations or judgment.
The image comes from loosening a taut rope.
You cut someone slack when circumstances make strict standards seem unfair: Cut her some slack—she just started the job.
The opposite is holding someone's feet to the fire.
- deadlinesSubmission cutoff times
- mistakesUnintended wrong actions
- human errorMistakes by people
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
- benefit of the doubtFavorable judgment amid uncertainty
empathy · good faith · easing up · grace · stress · bad day · rough patch · compassion · misunderstandings · kindness · acceptance · second chances · patience · learning curves · extenuating circumstances · turning a blind eye · mercy · emergencies
cutting someone some slackcracking down
Enforcing more strictly
zero tolerance · playing hardball · nitpicking · micromanaging · holding someone's feet to the fire
cutting someone some slackbreathing down someone's neck
Supervising with excessive closeness
cutter, cutters, cutting, cuttings, someone, slacks, slacking, slacker, slackers