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.
If the economy gets worse, some businesses might have to lay off employees to save costs.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: He was laid off because he was lazy.
Say: He 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'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'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 + staff
- workers
- staff
- hundreds
- temporarily
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- lay off (stop doing something annoying) — Another meaning of 'lay off' is 'stop doing something annoying'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.