Historical clue formulations

• In need of tightening, maybe — 2026-10-07
• Opposite of tautness — 2020-08-25
• What a lenient boss might cut you — 2020-01-07
• *Leeway — 2017-01-10
• Not taut — 2009-04-20
• Looseness — 1999-05-05
• Lax — 1996-01-17
• Not busy — 1995-09-22