4 VERB [only cont] If someone is slacking , they are not working as hard as they should. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V ] He had never let a foreman see him slacking. ● PHRASAL VERB Slack off means the same as slack . □ [V P ] If someone slacks off, Bill comes down hard.
5 PHRASE To take up the slack or pick up the slack means to do or provide something that another person or organization is no longer doing or providing. □ As major airlines give up less-traveled routes, smaller planes are picking up the slack.
slack|en /slæ kən/ (slackens , slackening , slackened )
1 VERB If something slackens or if you slacken it, it becomes slower, less active, or less intense. □ [V ] Inflationary pressures continued to slacken last month. □ [V n] The Conservative government will not slacken the pace of radical reform. ● slack|en|ing N‑SING □ [+ of ] There was a slackening of western output during the 1930s.
2 VERB If your grip or a part of your body slackens or if you slacken your grip, it becomes looser or more relaxed. □ [V ] Her grip slackened on Arnold's arm. [Also V n]
▸ slacken off PHRASAL VERB [no passive] If something slackens off , it becomes slower, less active, or less intense. [mainly BRIT ] □ [V P ] At about five o'clock, business slackened off.
slack|er /slæ kə r / (slackers ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a slacker , you mean that they are lazy and do less work than they should. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He's not a slacker; he's the best worker they've got.
sla ck-jawed ADJ If you say that someone is slack-jawed , you mean that their mouth is hanging open, often because they are surprised. □ He just gazed at me slack-jawed.
slacks /slæ ks/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Slacks are casual trousers. [OLD-FASHIONED ] □ She was wearing black slacks and a white sweater.
slag /slæ g/ (slags , slagging , slagged ) N‑COUNT Slag is used by some people to refer to a woman who they disapprove of because they think she is sexually immoral. [BRIT , INFORMAL , OFFENSIVE , DISAPPROVAL ]
▸ slag off PHRASAL VERB To slag someone off means to criticize them in an unpleasant way. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ [V P n] All bands slag off their record companies. It's just the way it is. □ [V n P ] People have been slagging me off.
sla g heap (slag heaps ) also slagheap N‑COUNT A slag heap is a hill made from waste material, such as rock and mud, left over from mining. [mainly BRIT ]
slain /sle I n/ Slain is the past participle of slay .
slake /sle I k/ (slakes , slaking , slaked ) VERB If you slake your thirst, you drink something that stops you being thirsty.
sla|lom /slɑː ləm/ (slaloms ) N‑COUNT A slalom is a race on skis or in canoes in which the competitors have to avoid a series of obstacles in a very twisting and difficult course.
slam /slæ m/ (slams , slamming , slammed )
1 VERB If you slam a door or window or if it slams , it shuts noisily and with great force. □ [V n] She slammed the door and locked it behind her. □ [V ] I was relieved to hear the front door slam. □ [V n adj] He slammed the gate shut behind him.
2 VERB If you slam something down , you put it there quickly and with great force. □ [V n with adv] She listened in a mixture of shock and anger before slamming the phone down.
3 VERB To slam someone or something means to criticize them very severely. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V n] The famed film-maker slammed the claims as 'an outrageous lie'.
4 VERB If one thing slams into or against another, it crashes into it with great force. □ [V + into/against ] The plane slammed into the building after losing an engine shortly after take-off. □ [V n + into/against ] He slammed me against the ground.
5 → see also Grand Slam
slam|mer /slæ mə r / N‑SING The slammer is prison. [INFORMAL ]
slan|der /slɑː ndə r , slæ n-/ (slanders , slandering , slandered )
1 N‑VAR Slander is an untrue spoken statement about someone which is intended to damage their reputation. Compare libel . □ Dr. Bach is now suing the company for slander.
2 VERB To slander someone means to say untrue things about them in order to damage their reputation. □ [V n] He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the Prime Minister.
slan|der|ous /slɑː ndərəs, slæ n-/ ADJ A spoken statement that is slanderous is untrue and intended to damage the reputation of the person that it refers to. □ He wanted an explanation for what he described as 'slanderous' remarks.
slang /slæ ŋ/ N‑UNCOUNT Slang consists of words, expressions, and meanings that are informal and are used by people who know each other very well or who have the same interests. □ Archie liked to think he kept up with current slang.
slang|ing match /slæ ŋ I ŋ mætʃ/ (slanging matches ) N‑COUNT A slanging match is an angry quarrel in which people insult each other. [BRIT ] □ They conducted a public slanging match.
slangy /slæ ŋi/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Slangy speech or writing has a lot of slang in it. □ The play was full of slangy dialogue.
slant /slɑː nt, slæ nt/ (slants , slanting , slanted )
1 VERB Something that slants is sloping, rather than horizontal or vertical. □ [V adv/prep] The morning sun slanted through the glass roof. □ [V -ing] …slanting green eyes.