laid-off
laid-off — phrasal verb
1. to make workers stop doing their jobs, usually because the employer does not hav
to make workers stop doing their jobs, usually because the employer does not have enough work or money for them
The factory laid off forty workers after orders fell sharply in winter.
lay off + workers when business slows
After the merger, the bank laid off several clerks from small branches.
Mina was laid off when the hotel closed for repairs.
The company promised not to lay off nurses during the budget cut.
- dismiss
more formal and often used in official contexts
- let go
common and softer in tone
- make redundant
especially British for removing a job
文法句型
lay off + worker/workforce
用法筆記
Often passive when the sentence focuses on the affected worker. In active clauses, the subject is usually a company, factory, or other employer.
2. to cut back on something such as food, drink, or an activity, or stop it complet
to cut back on something such as food, drink, or an activity, or stop it completely
The doctor told Ritu to lay off fried food for a month.
lay off + food in medical advice
After the exam, Chidi laid off online games and slept earlier.
Hoa is trying to lay off coffee after the heart scare.
The coach warned the team to lay off late-night snacks.
- cut down on
often suggests reducing rather than stopping fully
- give up
stronger and often means stopping completely
- avoid
focuses on staying away from something
- keep up
continue doing something regularly
- indulge in
enjoy something freely, often too much
文法句型
lay off + food/habit/activity
用法筆記
The object is usually a habit, food, drink, or activity. This sense is common in advice, warnings, and health-related talk.
常見錯誤
3. to stop bothering someone and let that person continue in peace
to stop bothering someone and let that person continue in peace
Lay off Eliska while she finishes the report before lunch.
imperative: lay off + person
The older boys finally laid off Théo after the teacher arrived.
Noor told the reporters to lay off the family outside the courthouse.
When the joke went too far, Ada shouted, "Lay off Christopher."
- leave alone
more neutral and less forceful
- back off
emphasizes stepping away from pressure
- stop pestering
focuses on repeated annoyance
文法句型
lay off + person
用法筆記
Usually said when someone is teasing, criticizing, or pressuring a person too much. It is especially common in commands or angry reactions.
常見錯誤
4. to show the size or edge of something by drawing lines or taking measurements
to show the size or edge of something by drawing lines or taking measurements
The builder laid off the width of the path with string.
lay off + measurement before work starts
Workers laid off the garden beds with stakes and tape.
The carpenter carefully laid off the board for three equal panels.
Before painting, Amelia laid off a clean border around the window.
- mark out
the closest everyday equivalent
- measure out
focuses more strongly on exact size
文法句型
lay off + area/line/measurement
用法筆記
This sense is used for physical spaces, distances, and edges before building, cutting, or painting work begins.
5. in football, to play a soft pass into space so a teammate can collect it while m
in football, to play a soft pass into space so a teammate can collect it while moving
Constanza laid off a short pass for the striker near the box.
football: short pass into space
The winger laid off the ball, and Eitan scored first time.
From the left side, Mizuki laid off neatly to the captain.
Under pressure, Christopher laid off into space for the full-back.
- square
often means pass sideways rather than forward into space
- slip through
usually means a more direct pass behind defenders
文法句型
lay off + ball/pass
用法筆記
Used in football reporting when a player nudges the ball into a useful area for a teammate rather than driving forward alone.