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
Kincaid missed three games with knee and collarbone injuries, but Knox didn’t pick up the slack.
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Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
With McNeil and Alvarez missing time, the burden will fall to Soto and crew to pick up the slack.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Fortunately, the New Orleans Health Department, run by Democrats, will try to pick up the slack.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
When Azzi Fudd isn’t hitting her outside shots, unlike Saturday, Sarah Strong can — and will — pick up the slack.
—John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pick/take up the slack
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Tim Graham, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
With McNeil and Alvarez missing time, the burden will fall to Soto and crew to pick up the slack.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Fortunately, the New Orleans Health Department, run by Democrats, will try to pick up the slack.
—Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2025
When Azzi Fudd isn’t hitting her outside shots, unlike Saturday, Sarah Strong can — and will — pick up the slack.
—John Nogowski, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2025.
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