slacking off

USAGE SUMMARY

"slacking off" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe someone who is not working hard enough, or who is not working at their full capacity. For example, "John has been slacking off at work lately and his boss is not happy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He is not slacking off just yet".

The Guardian

But what's Obama's excuse for slacking off?

The Guardian - Opinion

You're not slacking off, you're prioritizing and being efficient!

Yale University

If you weren't slacking off, you'd have 100 percent".

The New York Times

"She's slacking off more to fit in," Ms. Kingston said.

The New York Times

Slacking off is a privilege to be earned.

The Guardian - Opinion

There was little slacking off with the entrees.

The New York Times

Does this mean they are slacking off? A.

The New York Times

Slacking Off: Can Office Chatrooms Make Us More Productive Time Wasters? videoWhat Do Employees Really Want?

Stanford University

Honorable Saboteur stopped ramping up his efforts, and even began slacking off a bit.

The New York Times

Critics could accuse him of slacking off when the country is in need.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional settings, "slacking off" is effective for giving feedback about an employee's change in behavior, though it remains slightly colloquial.

Common error

Do not use "slacking off" when you mean a general decrease in speed or tension not related to human effort. For example, a storm might "slacken off", but a worker is the one who is "slacking off".

Linguistic Context

As noted in Ludwig, "slacking off" functions as a phrasal verb that is often used intransitively or followed by the preposition 'on'. It describes a state of reduced effort or the act of avoiding work.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Social Media

2%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "slacking off" is an extremely common and versatile phrasal verb used to describe a decrease in diligence. With over 60 examples from top-tier sources like The New York Times and Yale University, it is clear that the phrase is acceptable in both journalistic and educational contexts. It serves as a sharp but relatively common way to describe someone who is not performing to their full potential. While it leans towards the informal, its presence in high-authority media makes it a safe choice for most writing that isn't strictly technical or legal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shirking responsibilities

more formal and carries a stronger legal or ethical weight of avoiding duty

neglecting duties

emphasizes the failure to take care of specific tasks that were assigned

coasting

suggests doing the bare minimum to get by without putting in extra effort

procrastinating

specifically refers to delaying tasks rather than just working with low effort

goofing off

more informal and implies playful or silly behavior instead of working

underperforming

a professional business term that focuses on results rather than the attitude of laziness

losing momentum

focuses on the decrease in speed or progress rather than personal blame

idling

implies being completely inactive or wasting time rather than just working slowly

tapering off

describes a gradual decrease in intensity or effort over time

taking it easy

can be positive or neutral, suggesting a intentional choice to relax

FAQs

How do I use "slacking off" in a sentence?

You can use it as a verb to describe declining effort, such as: "If you keep "slacking off" at school, your grades will suffer."

Is "slacking off" formal enough for a work report?

It is semi-formal. While seen in The New York Times, for a high-level performance review, you might prefer terms like "underperforming" or "lack of diligence".

What is the difference between "slacking off" and "procrastinating"?

While both involve not working, "procrastinating" usually means putting off starting a task, whereas "slacking off" means working with very little effort or focus while on the job.

What is another way to say "slacking off"?

Depending on the context, you could say "shirking", "coasting", or "loafing".