cut someone some slack

verb

To make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely.

“He's the new kid on the block and doesn't know the way we do things around here yet. Cut him some slack and let him learn from this.”

Similar
give someone a breakgive someone enough rope
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Meanings

verbcut someone some slack (third-person singular simple present cuts someone some slack, present participle cutting someone some slack, simple past and past participle cut someone some slack)

present singular third person cuts someone some slack · participle present cutting someone some slack

  1. idiomaticTo make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely.

    He's the new kid on the block and doesn't know the way we do things around here yet. Cut him some slack and let him learn from this.

    Synonyms: give someone a break, give someone enough rope

Synonyms & antonyms

verbTo make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely.

Similar
give someone a breakgive someone enough rope
Also see
give someone enough rope

Translations

Catalan donar marge
  • donar margeTranslations
Finnish joustaa, löysätä
  • joustaaTranslations
  • löysätäTranslations
  • antaa armoaTranslations
French donner du mou, lâcher la bride
  • donner du mouTranslations
  • lâcher la brideTranslations
German mit einem blauen Auge davonkommen
  • mit einem blauen Auge davonkommenTranslations
Hungarian elnéző
  • elnézőTranslations
Polish dawać spokój, dać spokój
  • dawać spokójTranslations
  • dać spokójTranslations
Portuguese dar um tempo, dar uma folga
  • dar um tempoTranslations
  • dar uma folgaTranslations
  • dar um descontoTranslations
Romanian scuti
  • scutiTranslations
Spanish dar cuartelillo, no ser tan duro con alguien
  • dar cuartelilloTranslations
  • no ser tan duro con alguienTranslations
  • dejar pasar el incidenteTranslations
  • tenerle paciencia a alguienTranslations
  • ser paciente con alguienTranslations
  • darle un respiroTranslations
  • aflojar un pocoTranslations
  • ser más toleranteTranslations
  • no presionarTranslations
  • darle un descansoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

cut someone some slack. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cut%20someone%20some%20slack

MLA

“cut someone some slack.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cut%20someone%20some%20slack. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cut someone some slack,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cut%20someone%20some%20slack.

Source: cut someone some slack on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.