cut someone some slack

English

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

cut 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)

1. (idiomatic) 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.

Synonyms

• give someone a break
• give someone enough rope

Translations

Translations

• Catalan: donar marge
• Finnish: joustaa (fi), löysätä (fi), antaa armoa
• French: donner du mou (fr), lâcher la bride (fr)
• German: mit einem blauen Auge davonkommen (de) (lassen (passive))
• Hungarian: elnéző (hu)
• Portuguese: dar um tempo (pt), dar uma folga
• Spanish: dar cuartelillo

See also

• short leash