v. phr. 1. To mark out the boundaries or limits. He laid off a baseball diamond on the vacant lot.
Compare: LAY OUT 5 . 2. To put out of work. The company lost the contract for making the shoes and laid off half its workers. 3. slang To stop bothering; leave alone. Usually used in the imperative. Lay off me, will you? I have to study for a test. 4. slang To stop using or taking. His doctor told him to lay off cigarettes.