Meaning trap
lay off
stop employing
To stop employing someone, usually because there is not enough work or money.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To stop employing someone, usually because there is not enough work or money.
Another meaning of 'lay off' is 'stop doing something annoying'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- The company had to lay off 200 workers last year due to falling sales.work
- If the economy gets worse, some businesses might have to lay off employees to save costs.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: lay off + object (person/people)
WrongHe was laid off because he was lazy.
RightHe was fired/sacked because he was lazy.
'Lay off' = let go due to lack of work (no fault). Being dismissed for bad performance is 'fire/sack'.
Patternlay off + object (person/people)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Lay off' is the standard term for letting staff go for economic reasons. 'Terminated the employment of' is HR-formal.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
lay off + staffworkersstaffhundredstemporarily
Don't confuse it
'Fire' means to remove someone for bad behavior; 'lay off' is about business needs.
Related
- lay off (stop doing something annoying) — Another meaning of 'lay off' is 'stop doing something annoying'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.