Last Updated：2025/12/05

Dictionary quizzes to help you remember the meaning

take up the slack

Source Word

take up the slack

To tighten something that is slack so that it is taut. / To do work that would otherwise be left undone. / To provide extra resources that are not met by normal sources.

Japanese Meaning

緩んだ状態のものをピンと張るように整える / 放置されるはずの作業を代わりに行う / 通常の供給では足りない分を補うための追加リソースを提供する

What is this buttons?

After the storm loosened the tent ropes, we had to take up the slack before the next gust came.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

嵐でテントのロープが緩んだので、次の突風が来る前にロープのたるみを取らなければなりませんでした。

Details

Sense（1）

To tighten something that is slack so that it is taut.

You need to take up the slack in your cables so shifters and brakes function properly.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

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Sense（2）

To do work that would otherwise be left undone.

A production never has enough time or enough money. Someone has to take up the slack.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

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Sense（3）

To provide extra resources that are not met by normal sources.

As oil production worldwide plateaus and falters, other fossil fuels are coming under strain, and no alternative — renewable or otherwise — shows any sign of being able to take up the slack.

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Sense（4）

(mathematics) To act as a slack variable, converting an inequality into an equality.

A slack variable is a real variable which is introduced to take up the slack in an inequality constraint, i.e., to convert an inequality constraint to an equality constraint.

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Sense（5）

To consume something that would otherwise go to waste.

It is the nature of monopoly capitalism to create unused industrial capacity and unemployment. The arms economy is an effort to take up the slack in this unused capacity.

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takes up the slack

（ present singular third-person ）

taking up the slack

（ participle present ）

took up the slack

（ past ）

taken up the slack

（ participle past ）

Details

take up the slack

Dictionary quizzes to help you remember the meaning

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take up the slack

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