cut someone some slack

cut someone some slack (third-person singular simple present cuts someone some slack, present participle cutting someone some slack, simple past and past participle cut someone some slack)

1. To make allowances for someone, and not treat a failure severely

   He's the new kid on the block and doesn't know the way we do things around here yet. Cut him some slack and let him learn from this.

• give someone a break
• give someone enough rope

• short leash