What does "lay off" mean?
"Lay off" means to dismiss workers or to stop doing something. Here's both meanings with examples and how serious each one is.
Two main meanings
1. Dismiss workers (business)
To end someone's employment, usually due to budget cuts or restructuring - not because of their performance. This is redundancy.
"The company laid off 200 workers."
"She was laid off during the restructuring."
Important distinction
Being "laid off" is different from being "fired." Fired = dismissed for cause (your fault). Laid off = dismissed for business reasons (not your fault). This matters enormously for self-esteem and references.
2. Stop doing something (informal)
To stop an activity, often something irritating.
"Lay off the sugar." = Stop eating so much sugar.
"Lay off him, will you?" = Stop bothering him.
As a noun - layoff
The act of dismissing workers. "The layoffs hit 15% of the workforce."
Register
Meaning 1 is neutral/professional. Meaning 2 is informal, sometimes sharp.
What does "lay off" mean?
"Lay off" means to dismiss workers or to stop doing something. Here's both meanings with examples and how serious each one is.
Is "lay off" formal or informal?
To stop an activity, often something irritating.
"Lay off the sugar." = Stop eating so much sugar.
"Lay off him, will you?" = Stop bothering him.
Phrasal verbs are one of the hardest parts of English to master.
LLH Tutor explains them in plain language, so you know exactly when and how to use each one.
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