lay off

verb

1. tr, adverb to suspend (workers) from employment with the intention of re-employing them at a later date

   the firm had to lay off 100 men

2. informal.
   intr to leave (a person, thing, or activity) alone

   lay off me, will you!

3. tr, adverb to mark off the boundaries of
4. tr, adverb soccer to pass or deflect (the ball) to a team-mate, esp one in a more advantageous position
5. gambling another term for hedge

noun

1. the act of suspending employees
2. a period of imposed unemployment