cut someone some slack
idiom

- allow someone some leeway in their conduct

Oxford Dictionary

---
ORIGIN

As a noun slack refers to a period of inactivity (We experienced a slack in the business last week) and a loose part of something, such as a rope. The latter sense is where the expression "cut someone some slack" derives from.

If you want to loosen a rope that is tight for instance, you "give it some slack." As a matter of fact, one might also hear "give me some slack" instead of "cut me some slack," although cut is heard more frequently.

Slack is also found in the expressions "take up the slack" and "pick up the slack," both of which refer to doing something that someone else can not or will not do (To complete the project on time, you will need to take up the slack).

Note: adding an "s" to the end of the word slack turns it into something completely different. Slacks is another word for trousers, usually loose-fitting ones of course.

---
SYNONYMS

back off, give me a break, get off my back, lay off, take it easy

---
Practice OWAD in a conversation:

"Hey Mike, CUT THE TEAM SOME SLACK, they worked the entire weekend."