lay off

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lay someone off

to force a worker to give up a job, usually because of high costs or other business reasons. She was laid off along with many others when the company moved to California. Our choices are to lay off ten workers, or raise our prices by 10%.

See also: lay

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? References in classic literature
Can I take her into the spare room to lay off her hat when she comes? Anne Of Green Gables by Montgomery, Lucy Maud View in context They couldn't hit no project that suited exactly; so at last the duke said he reckoned he'd lay off and work his brains an hour or two and see if he couldn't put up something on the Arkansaw village; and the king he allowed he would drop over to t'other village without any plan, but just trust in Providence to lead him the profitable way -- meaning the devil, I reckon. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Mark View in context There were already a couple of score of passengers aboard, some of whom had expended their last money in securing a passage, but the captain lay off the Blackwater until five in the afternoon, picking up passengers until the seated decks were even dangerously crowded. The War Of The Worlds by Wells, H.G. View in context More results

References in classic literature

Can I take her into the spare room to lay off her hat when she comes?

Anne Of Green Gables by Montgomery, Lucy Maud View in context

They couldn't hit no project that suited exactly; so at last the duke said he reckoned he'd lay off and work his brains an hour or two and see if he couldn't put up something on the Arkansaw village; and the king he allowed he would drop over to t'other village without any plan, but just trust in Providence to lead him the profitable way -- meaning the devil, I reckon.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain, Mark View in context

There were already a couple of score of passengers aboard, some of whom had expended their last money in securing a passage, but the captain lay off the Blackwater until five in the afternoon, picking up passengers until the seated decks were even dangerously crowded.

The War Of The Worlds by Wells, H.G. View in context

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lay down the law
lay eyes on
lay into
lay it on the line
lay it on thick
lay low
lay of the land

lay off
lay on
lay open
lay out
lay over
lay the blame on
lay the ghost of
lay to rest

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