Phrase guide

slack off

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, intransitive

Examples

  • Emily is slacking off since this is her last semester; she completely stopped trying to make good grades.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To decrease in intensity; to ease off; to diminish; to die down.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • Thankfully the hail slacked off after a few minutes.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

become less in amount or intensity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The storm abated
  • The rain let up after a few hours

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: abate, let up, slack, die away

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: decrease, diminish, lessen, fall

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

33 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 偷懶 /偷懒 (tōulǎn) — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Finnish: löysäillä — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Finnish: laiskotella — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • French: glander — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • French: tirer au flanc — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • French: procrastiner — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • French: atermoyer — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • German: faulenzen — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • German: vernachlässigen — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Japanese: 弛む (tarumu) — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Polish: obijać się — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Polish: opierniczać się — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Polish: lenić się — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Russian: отлынивать (otlynivatʹ) — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Spanish: holgazanear — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Spanish: ociosear — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Spanish: aflojar — to be deliberately unproductive in one's work or study
  • Chinese Mandarin: 減少 /减少 (jiǎnshǎo) — to decrease in intensity
  • Chinese Mandarin: 下降 (xiàjiàng) — to decrease in intensity
  • Finnish: laantua — to decrease in intensity
  • French: se calmer — to decrease in intensity
  • French: diminuer — to decrease in intensity
  • German: nachlassen — to decrease in intensity
  • Japanese: 緩む (yurumu) — to decrease in intensity
  • Polish: zwalniać tempo — to decrease in intensity
  • Polish: zwolnić tempo — to decrease in intensity
  • Polish: słabnąć — to decrease in intensity
  • Polish: osłabnąć — to decrease in intensity
  • Russian: ослабевать (oslabevatʹ) — to decrease in intensity
  • Spanish: decaer — to decrease in intensity
  • Spanish: disminuir — to decrease in intensity
  • Spanish: menguar — to decrease in intensity
  • Spanish: amainar — to decrease in intensity