lay off
1．dismiss temporarily，generally because of lack of work临时解雇
If business continues to be slow， we may have to lay off ten people．如果生意继续萧条，我们可能得暂时辞退10个人。
Bill hasn't lost his job． His firm laid him off for two weeks．比尔没有失业，他的公司临时解雇他两个星期。
Was John fired or laid off？约翰是被解雇了，还是被临时辞退一段时间？
The work there was seasonal， and there was a great deal of hardship among the employees when they were laid off each winter．那里的工作带有季节性，所以每年冬天雇工们被解雇时，日子是很难过的。
2．discontinue work or activity；take a rest停止工作或活动；休息
The doctor told him to lay off for a rest．医生嘱咐他把工作停下来休息一段时间。
You'd better lay off smoking for a while．你最好这会儿不要抽烟。
3．stop doing sth．which irritates or annoys；stop bothering；leave alone不要惹人生气；不要打扰别人
I didn't like some of the things he was saying about her so I told him to lay off．他在说她的一些事，我不愿听，所以我告诉他不要再说了。
4．stop using or taking戒除；勿再
His doctor told him to lay off smoking．他的医生要他戒烟。
5．mark out the boundaries or limits标出界线
The boundaries are clearly laid off on the map．地图上清楚地标出了界线。
6．take off；put（a garment，etc．）aside脱掉；把（衣服等）搁在一边
It's time we were able to lay off these heavy winter clothes．现在是我们可以把这些厚重的冬装换下搁在一边的时候了。