Slack off
Meaning: To be lazy or avoid doing work; to put in less effort than expected.
Slacking off means deliberately doing less work than you should. It's the quintessential American workplace and school complaint — someone who slacks off while others pick up the burden. A 'slacker' is the noun form, describing someone who habitually avoids effort.
Examples
- Stop slacking off and finish your report. 别偷懒了,赶紧把报告写完。Deja de holgazanear y termina el informe.サボってないで報告書を仕上げろよ。빈둥대지 말고 보고서나 끝내.
- He's been slacking off ever since he got tenure. 他自从拿到终身教职后就一直在摸鱼。Ha estado escaqueándose desde que consiguió la plaza fija.彼はテニュア(終身在職権)を取ってからずっとサボっている。그는 종신 재직권을 받은 이후로 계속 대충하고 있어.
- I tend to slack off on Fridays — it's hard to stay focused before the weekend. 我周五容易偷懒——周末前很难集中注意力。Los viernes tiendo a escaquearme: me cuesta concentrarme antes del fin de semana.金曜日はサボりがちになる――週末前は集中しづらいんだよね。금요일에는 게으름을 피우게 되더라 — 주말 전이라 집중이 안 돼.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: work, school, productivity
Tone: critical, frustrated
✓ Do Say
- Don't slack off — midterms are next week.别偷懒——下周就期中考了。No te escaquees: los parciales son la semana que viene.サボるなよ――来週中間テストだぞ。빈둥거리지 마 — 중간고사가 다음 주야.
- He's been slacking off all quarter.他整个学期都在摸鱼。Lleva todo el trimestre holgazaneando.彼は今学期ずっとサボっている。그는 이번 학기 내내 대충하고 있어.
✗ Don't Say
- Don't confuse with the communication tool Slack — 'slacking off on Slack' is ambiguous不要和通讯工具Slack混淆——'slacking off on Slack'会产生歧义No confundir con la herramienta de comunicación Slack: «slacking off on Slack» es ambiguoコミュニケーションツールのSlackと混同しないこと――「slacking off on Slack」は曖昧になる커뮤니케이션 도구 Slack과 혼동하지 말 것 — 'slacking off on Slack'은 모호함
Origin & History
American English from the early 20th century, from 'slack' meaning loose or not tight. The idea is of letting the rope go slack — not pulling your weight. 'Slacker' was popularized in 1990s American culture by the film of the same name.
Cultural Context
Era: Early 20th century
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from Work & School
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free