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"Lay off" is a transitive verb phrase which is often translated as "despedir", and "sack" is a noun which is often translated as "el saco". Learn more about the difference between "lay off" and "sack" below.
lay off(
ley
af
)A transitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and requires a direct object (e.g., take out the trash.).
1. (to fire)
a. despedir
Hundreds of workers have been laid off as a result of the factory closure.Han despedido a centenares de trabajadores a consecuencia del cierre de la fábrica.
b. suspender de empleo temporalmente (temporarily)
The loss of this order means that the shipyard is likely to have to lay off a quarter of its workforce.La pérdida de este pedido significa que es probable que el astillero tenga que suspender de empleo temporalmente a la cuarta parte de la plantilla.
2. (colloquial) (to go without)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
3. (colloquial) (to stop upsetting)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. dejar en paz
Lay off me, please. I need to get this done.Déjame en paz, por favor. Tengo que terminar esto.
b. dejar de meterse con
Lay off your brother, Charlotte. None of this is his fault.Deja de meterte con tu hermano, Charlotte. Nada de esto es culpa suya.
c. dejar de pelearse con
You need to lay off your dad. He's only trying to help.Tienes que dejar de pelearte con tu papá. Solo intenta ayudarte.
An intransitive verb phrase is a phrase that combines a verb with a preposition or other particle and does not require a direct object (e.g., Everybody please stand up.).
4. (colloquial) (to desist)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. dejarlo
Lay off, will you! That joke's wearing very thin.¡Déjalo, por favor! La broma empieza a no tener ninguna gracia.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Come on. Lay off. This isn't funny anymore.Venga. Basta ya. Esto ya no tiene gracia.
Lay off, Bernard. You're getting on my nerves.Termínala, Bernard. Me crispas los nervios.
sack(
sahk
)A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
1. (big bag)
b. el costal (M) (of wheat or flour)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
They loaded the sacks of flour into the pickup.Cargaron los costales de harina en la camioneta.
2. (pillage)
a. la bolsa de papel (F)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
She came out of the store carrying two sacks with groceries for the weekend.Salió de la tienda cargada con dos bolsas de papel con provisiones para el fin de semana.
4. (colloquial) (bed) (United States)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in the United States
b. el sobre (M) (colloquial)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Where is your brother? - He went to hit the sack. He was exhausted.¿Dónde está tu hermano? - Se metió en el sobre. Estaba reventado.
c. la piltra (F) (colloquial) (Spain)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
I'm going to hit the sack; I haven't gotten a wink of sleep in 24 hours.Me voy a la piltra; hace 24 horas que no duermo.
5. (colloquial) (dismissal)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
After 20 years of loyal service, he got the sack for missing one day of work.Después de 20 años de leal servicio, lo despidieron por faltar un solo día al trabajo.
His boss caught him drinking on the job, so he gave him the sack.Su jefe lo pilló bebiendo en el trabajo, así que lo echó.
b. la captura (F) (Mexico)
(f) means that a noun is feminine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
Regionalism used in Mexico
That quarterback sack earned us the game.Esa captura de mariscal de campo nos hizo ganar el partido.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
7. (to plunder)
a. saquear
The Visigoths sacked the city of Rome in 410 AD.Los visigodos saquearon la ciudad de Roma en 410 dC.
8. (colloquial) (to dismiss)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. despedir
He was sacked after he was caught stealing from the till.Lo despidieron cuando lo pillaron robando de la caja registradora.
9. (sports)
b. hacer una captura de (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Mexico
Malucci sacked our quarterback in the first quarter.Malucci hizo una captura de nuestro mariscal de campo en el primer cuarto.
