lay off

USAGE SUMMARY

'lay off' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to tell someone to stop doing something or to stop harassing someone, usually in an aggressive or threatening manner. For example: "Hey, lay off her, she doesn't deserve your anger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Lay off employees.

Harvard Business Review

Oh lay off, will you?

Yale University

Oh lay off eh. c.

Yale University

I lay off good people.

The Guardian

Gray was forced to lay off employees.

The New York Times

"They are starting to lay off employees.

The New York Times

"Lay off of me, will you".

The New Yorker

Meanwhile, "Lay off my wife," he pleaded.

The Economist

"You should lay off those candy bars".

The New York Times

* Allowing enterprises to lay off workers.

The New York Times

Decide when to lay off power.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When telling someone to stop an action, be clear about which of the two meanings you are intending. It could refer to someone stopping an activity or ceasing to bother someone

Common error

Avoid using "lay off" passively when you mean to say "fire". "Lay off" typically implies a temporary or business-related decision, not individual performance issues. Be specific to avoid misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrasal verb "lay off" functions primarily as a verb indicating the action of an employer dismissing employees, often temporarily, due to economic reasons. Ludwig AI confirms that it is also used to tell someone to stop doing something. Many Ludwig examples illustrate its use in business contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lay off" is a versatile phrasal verb with two primary meanings: to dismiss employees for economic reasons and to tell someone to stop bothering another person. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical status is correct and is very commonly used, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When discussing business matters, it's best practice to provide context to explain layoffs. Be mindful of confusing the term with "fire", which implies termination due to performance. Semantically related phrases include "dismiss workers" and "terminate employment" for employment contexts and "leave someone alone" when asking someone to stop bothering you. By following best practices and avoiding common errors, you can ensure accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

dismiss workers

Focuses specifically on the act of terminating employment due to business reasons.

terminate employment

A more formal way of saying "lay off", suitable for professional communication.

reduce staff

Emphasizes the reduction in the number of employees without specifying the reason.

make redundant

A British English term for "lay off", indicating that a position is no longer needed.

give someone the axe

An informal and somewhat harsh way of saying "lay off", implying a sudden termination.

stop harassing

Relates to the meaning of ceasing to bother someone, not related to employment.

cease bothering

A more polite way of asking someone to stop annoying or pestering another person.

leave someone alone

A direct and simple way of telling someone to stop bothering another person.

quit pestering

Focuses on the act of persistently annoying someone.

stop teasing

Highlights the playful but potentially bothersome nature of the action.

FAQs

What does it mean to "lay off" employees?

To "lay off" employees means to terminate their employment, usually temporarily, due to economic reasons such as a downturn in business or restructuring. It's different from firing someone for performance issues.

What are some synonyms for "lay off" in a business context?

In a business context, synonyms for "lay off" include "dismiss workers", "reduce staff", "downsize", and "make redundant".

How do I use "lay off" in a sentence when telling someone to stop?

When telling someone to stop bothering you, you can say "Lay off, I'm trying to concentrate" or "Lay off me, I've had enough".

What's the difference between "lay off" and "fire"?

"Lay off" typically refers to a temporary or indefinite termination of employment due to business reasons, while "fire" means to terminate someone's employment due to poor performance or misconduct.