pick/take up the slack
idiom
: to provide or do something that is missing or not getting done
The manager has to take up the slack when employees don't do their jobs correctly.
When he didn't get the pay raise he was expecting, he had to take another job to pick up the slack for more money.
Examples of pick/take up the slack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and James Harden are among James’ teammates that will have to pick up the slack in his absence.
—
Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025
Lots of other workplaces would leave it vacant and have others pick up the slack.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Dobbins returned from a four-game absence just in time to pick up the slack, but the Chargers’ leading rusher appeared to tweak an ankle in Sunday’s regular-season finale with the Las Vegas Raiders.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Among the forward group, Granlund was the Sharks’ leading penalty killer, and Celebrini will be one of those asked to help pick up the slack.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick/take up the slack
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Christian Babcock, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2025
Lots of other workplaces would leave it vacant and have others pick up the slack.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025
Dobbins returned from a four-game absence just in time to pick up the slack, but the Chargers’ leading rusher appeared to tweak an ankle in Sunday’s regular-season finale with the Las Vegas Raiders.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Among the forward group, Granlund was the Sharks’ leading penalty killer, and Celebrini will be one of those asked to help pick up the slack.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick/take up the slack
Cite this Entry
“Pick/take up the slack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%2Ftake%20up%20the%20slack. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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