lay him off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay him off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the context of terminating someone's employment, often due to economic reasons or company downsizing. Example: "Due to the recent budget cuts, the company had to lay him off last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"If you've invested 10 years in a worker, you're going to be reluctant to lay him off," said Robert Shimer, an economics professor at the University of Chicago.

The New York Times

Birand had written columns calling for better treatment of Turkey's Kurds, and his employer, Sabah, had been forced by senior members of the military to lay him off.

The New Yorker

For example, if an employee wanted to withdraw the funds, he could ask his employer to lay him off for a week or two and then pull the funds out penalty-free.

Forbes

And, frankly, after seeing the quality of his analytical work, I would not lay him off.

Huffington Post

However, more likely, the poor economy and the end of the fair caused the Herald to lay him off, and Davenport suggested as much in a 1905 interview.

Wikipedia

One worker described working with an injured hand for three days because a supervisor told him that he would lay him off and get another to replace him if he didn't want to work.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

When Payton lay off him to stop his penetration, Parker nailed jump shots.

The New York Times - Sports

The equality lobby will have to lay off him for a while.

The Guardian

Ms. Chasen met Mr. Citron for lunch at the Polo Lounge and playfully "threatened to kill me if we didn't lay off him," Mr. Citron said.

The New York Times

"The benefit when they lay off him is his vision," Rivers said, who laughed and recalled his own early days in the league in Atlanta as a point guard who was welcome to dent the rim if he dared.

The New York Times - Sports

The reality is if you can't prove he did it, then he's innocent, and lay off him.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lay him off" when referring to a termination due to economic reasons or company restructuring, not as a result of poor performance. Ensure the context clearly indicates a layoff situation.

Common error

Avoid using "lay him off" interchangeably with "fire". "Fire" implies termination due to misconduct or poor performance, while "lay him off" suggests economic reasons or restructuring.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "lay him off" is as a phrasal verb, where "lay off" acts as a transitive verb requiring a direct object ("him"). Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used to describe the action of an employer terminating an employee's job, often due to economic reasons.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lay him off" is a phrasal verb indicating the termination of someone's employment, typically due to economic reasons or company restructuring. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in News & Media. It's crucial to differentiate it from "fire", which implies termination due to poor performance or misconduct. Related phrases include "terminate his employment" and "make him redundant". While "lay him off" is a neutral term, understanding its appropriate context helps ensure clear and accurate communication about job loss.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terminate his employment

Replaces the phrasal verb with a more formal and direct expression.

make him redundant

Commonly used in British English to describe job termination due to lack of work.

let him go

A more euphemistic and gentler way of expressing the termination.

give him notice

Focuses on the act of informing the employee about the termination.

dismiss him

A formal term indicating termination of employment.

downsize his position

Emphasizes the organizational restructuring that leads to the job loss.

end his contract

Specifically applies to employees working under a contract.

axe his job

A more informal and blunt way of describing the termination.

remove him from the payroll

Focuses on the financial aspect of terminating employment.

fire him

Implies termination due to performance or misconduct, unlike a layoff.

FAQs

What does it mean to "lay someone off"?

To "lay someone off" means to terminate their employment, typically due to economic reasons, company downsizing, or restructuring, rather than due to poor performance or misconduct.

Is it better to say "lay someone off" or "fire" someone?

The choice depends on the reason for termination. "Lay someone off" is used when the termination is due to economic reasons or restructuring, while "fire" is used when it's due to poor performance or misconduct. Using the correct term is essential for clarity and accuracy.

What are some alternatives to saying "lay him off"?

You can use alternatives like "terminate his employment", "make him redundant", or "let him go" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

How does "laying someone off" differ from "firing" them?

"Laying someone off" implies the job elimination is due to company-wide issues such as financial constraints or restructuring. "Firing" /s/firing someone indicates a termination due to individual performance issues or behavioral problems.