lay off

Noun

No noun senses have been added yet.

Verb

lay off verb

1. (chiefly US) (of an employer) To dismiss (workers) from employment, e.g. at a time of low business volume or through no fault of the worker, often with a severance package.
2. (of a bookmaker) To place all or part of a bet with another bookmaker in order to reduce risk.
3. To cease, quit, stop (doing something).“Lay off the singing, will you! I'm trying to study.”
4. To stop bothering, teasing, or pestering someone; to leave (someone) alone.“I told him to lay off me but he wouldn't stop.”