lay off

[lay off] {v. phr.}

1. To mark out the boundaries or limits.

* /He laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot./

Compare: LAY OUT(5).

2. To put out of work.

* /The company lost the contract for making the shoes and laid off half its workers./

3. {slang} To stop bothering; leave alone. — Usually used in the imperative.

* /Lay off me, will you? I have to study for a test./

4. {slang} To stop using or taking.

* /His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes./

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms


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