leɪ ɒf
neutral
intermediate
- Base verb:
- lay
- Particle:
- off
- Separable:
- Yes
What does "lay off" mean?
- To stop employing workers, usually temporarily
- To stop doing something that is harmful or annoying
- To stop criticizing or bothering someone
Examples
- The company laid off 200 workers due to the recession.
- The doctor told him to lay off the fatty foods.
- Lay off! I'm trying to concentrate.
- They were laid off just before Christmas.
- I need to lay off the coffee; I'm drinking too much.
How to use it
'Layoff' (noun) refers to temporary job loss. Different from being 'fired' which is permanent and often for poor performance. 'Lay off someone' can also mean stop bothering them.
Word order
For employment: separable ('lay workers off'). For stopping: intransitive ('lay off' + noun or verb-ing).
Similar expressions
dismiss
fire
stop
quit
Opposites
hire
employ
continue
Related phrasal verbs
- lay out
To arrange things in a particular way
- lay down
To establish rules or principles officially
- turn off
To stop a device or appliance by pressing a switch or button
- get off
To leave a bus, train, plane, or other public transport
- go off
To explode or fire (bomb, gun, fireworks)
- give off
To emit or produce something (smell, heat, light, radiation)
Use it in a practice answer
Try "lay off" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.