pick/take up the slack

idiom

: to provide or do something that is missing or not getting done

The manager has to take up the slack when employees don't do their jobs correctly.

When he didn't get the pay raise he was expecting, he had to take another job to pick up the slack for more money.

Examples of pick/take up the slack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But for over 50 years, Washington has broken this promise, with state and local districts left to pick up the slack. —Jamie Shopland, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2025

Fortunately, the Liberty still have their top scorer, Sabrina Ionescu (19.3 points per game), to pick up the slack. —Aaron Tolentino, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2025

Graduation decimated both lines, but linebackers like Morehouse, Mayers and sophomore Jimmy Merino are expected to pick up the slack. —Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Aug. 2025

There are some intriguing prospects approaching the rotation, but they shouldn't be counted on to pick up the slack alone in future years. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 July 2025