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# laid off

phrase (verb phrase: lay off, lays off, laid off, laying off; noun a layoff)

«laid off» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, everyday, mainly US) dismissed from a job because the employer has less work or money, not because of the worker's fault.
2. (slang) told to stop doing something («Lay off him!»).

### In the lessons

Used by workers, companies and the news to speak about job losses calmly; it suggests it is not the worker's fault. Register: everyday, news; mainly US and Canada, also elsewhere.

### Examples

- Dad was laid off when the factory closed.
- News: The company laid off 200 workers.
- Chat: got laid off today, so that's fun
- Many people were laid off during the slow season.
- Layoffs hit the car industry hard.
- Lay off the sweets, or you'll feel sick!
- Maths: If 50 of 400 workers are laid off, 350 remain.

### Note

It is usually not about the person's performance; «fired» suggests fault. «Lay off» someone also means stop teasing or bothering them. Spelt «laid», not «layed». Plain words: lost one's job.