to lay sb off temporarily
1lay sb off — UK US lay sb off Phrasal Verb with lay({{}}/leɪ/ verb [T] (laid, laid) ► to stop employing someone, usually temporarily because there is not enough work to do: »Because of falling orders, the company has been forced to lay off several hundred… …
2lay someone off — discharge a worker temporarily or permanently because of a shortage of work. → lay …
3lay someone off — MAKE REDUNDANT, dismiss, let go, discharge, give notice to; informal sack, fire, give someone their cards, give someone their marching orders, give someone the boot/push, give someone the (old) heave ho. → lay * * * discharge a worker, esp.… …
4lay — lay1 verb (past and past participle laid) 1》 put down, especially gently or carefully. 2》 put down and set in position for use. ↘Brit. set cutlery on (a table) in preparation for a meal. ↘put the material for (a fire) in place.… …
5lay — lay1 [lā] vt. laid, laying [ME leyen, new formation < 3d pers. sing. of earlier leggen < OE lecgan, lit., to make lie (akin to Goth lagjan, Ger legen) < pt. base of OE licgan, to LIE1] 1. to cause to come down or fall with force; knock… …
6lay|off — «LAY F, OF», noun. 1. a dismissing of workers temporarily: »The majority of those affected will be seasoned employees whose layoff dates will be advanced from one to two months as compared with last year (Wall Street Journal). 2. a time during… …
7lay off — ► lay off 1) discharge (a worker) temporarily or permanently because of a shortage of work. 2) informal give up. Main Entry: ↑lay …
8lay off — lay•off [[t]ˈleɪˌɔf, ˌɒf[/t]] n. 1) the act of dismissing employees, esp. temporarily 2) a period of enforced unemployment • Etymology: 1885–90 …
9lay — lay1 /lay/, v., laid, laying, n. v.t. 1. to put or place in a horizontal position or position of rest; set down: to lay a book on a desk. 2. to knock or beat down, as from an erect position; strike or throw to the ground: One punch laid him low.… …
10lay — lay1 [ leı ] (past tense and past participle laid [ leıd ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 put down flat/carefully ▸ 2 push egg from body ▸ 3 plan and prepare ▸ 4 lie ▸ 5 prepare table for meal ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) transitive lay on/in/across/against to put something …
