slack
UK: slæk | US: slæk
adj. not tight or taut; loose
adj. lacking in diligence or care; negligent
n. the part of a rope or cable that is not taut
vi. to be or become slack; reduce effort
The word "slack" traces back to Old English sleac, meaning "lazy, sluggish, or loose." It is related to Old Norse slakr (limp) and Dutch slak (slack). The core idea of "looseness" or "lack of tension" has persisted through its evolution, branching into both physical (e.g., a slack rope) and metaphorical (e.g., slack effort) meanings.
The rope went slack as the weight was removed.
His slack attitude at work led to missed deadlines.
She tightened the slack in the fishing line.
After the storm, the sails hung slack in the windless air.
The team must not slack in their preparations for the tournament.