In such cases even a four-to-one multiplying reel is much too slow to pick up the slack, and a single-action fly reel is hopelessly inadequate.

To go forward, lightly pick up the slack in one line to show the horse or horses which direction you'll be heading.

"Reel in! Reel! Reel!" I shouted, though with no one else within a hundred miles; she could have heard me whisper. You tend to do that when you are really excited. Pick up the slack!” Pick up the slack!"

We call them slack variables because they pick up the slack, so to speak; that is, they take on whatever values are necessary to create equalities (notice that each slack variable must be nonnegative).

Pick up the slack

Meaning

Verb