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to let deadlines slide

to let deadlines slide

6.7
Fail to finish tasks by the agreed time
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : dejar pasar plazos
  • It's important not to let deadlines slide if you want to keep your clients happy.

Examples

  • Sometimes employees let deadlines slide when there are too many projects at once.

  • She often lets deadlines slide at work.

  • He promised not to let deadlines slide during the next quarter.

  • Don't let deadlines slide!

  • To maintain a good reputation, it is crucial not to let deadlines slide on important projects.

  • If you continue to let deadlines slide, you may risk losing valuable clients and your job.

  • Many employees tend to let deadlines slide when they feel overwhelmed with multiple tasks.

Synonyms

to procrastinate
vsto let deadlines slide
26 6.5

To delay doing something you should do because you avoid it

is failing to meet set times rather than merely delaying tasks
to miss a deadline
vsto let deadlines slide
2 3.6

Fail to hand in work by the agreed time

is specifically failing to meet set time limits often by choice
to put on the back burner
vsto let deadlines slide
1 5.6

To delay dealing with something until later and make it less important

is actually missing set times not just deprioritizing tasks
to drag one's heels
vsto let deadlines slide
  • Informal
7.5

To delay doing something because you do not want to do it

is failing to meet set times while the other is slow by choice
to drag one's feet
vsto let deadlines slide
  • Informal
5.5

To be slow on purpose because you do not want to do something

is failing to meet set times while the other is slow by choice

Antonyms

79 3.9

To follow rules or instructions

Finish a task or project by the time it is due

How Punctual

to let deadlines slide
  • Informal
6.7

Surface Forms

let deadlines slide infinitive
let deadlines slide past participle
letting deadlines slide present participle
lets deadlines slide third person singular

Morphology

let + deadline + slide

The components 'let' (allow) + 'deadlines' + 'slide' yield a plausible metaphorical meaning of allowing deadlines to 'slip by' or be ignored, so the sense is partially derivable from the parts. However, using 'slide' in the non-literal sense 'to let pass/leave unaddressed' requires a metaphorical inference that not all B1 learners will make reliably, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Let deadlines slide creates a simple picture: imagine a due date or task like a small object and you let it slide past you instead of catching it. If you do not stop it, it goes away, so to let deadlines slide means to 'fail to meet' or 'ignore' those dates.