1. （通常指因工作岗位不足而）辞退，解雇，使下岗
If workers are laid off, they are told by their employers to leave their job, usually because there is no more work for them to do.

2. 住手；闭嘴
If you tell someone to lay off, you mean that they should stop touching or criticizing you or someone else.

1. dismiss, usually for economic reasons

e.g. She was laid off together with hundreds of other workers when the company downsized

Synonym: furlough

2. put an end to a state or an activity

e.g. Quit teasing your little brother

Synonym: discontinuestopceasegive upquit