to lay off: to abstain from, stop using as a habit; to release or discharge from a job (also: related idiom: to let go) Examples of TO LAY OFF Today is my 30th birthday, but I should probably lay off the cake and champagne. He said the company had to lay off employees and has…

under the weather: not feeling well, sick Examples of UNDER THE WEATHER Sara coughed and apologized for being under the weather, even though everyone gets sick sometimes. My boss sent me home because I was under the weather and he didn’t want anyone else to catch whatever I had.  

to fool around: to waste time (also: to screw around); to joke, not to be serious Examples of TO FOOL AROUND – The problem doesn’t seem to be that participants are bored and fooling around.– I’ve been fooling around with the 5mx and find it a generally agreeable machine.

to stand a chance: to have the possibility of accomplishing something Examples of TO STAND A CHANCE With coast guard teams using the Stiletto, smugglers seem not to stand a chance. Poor little child doesn’t stand a chance at a good life, being with such losers.

to die out: not to exist anymore; to be in the process of disappearing Examples of TO DIE OUT Even the idea that all the dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago is now passe. That strange, new style of dancing is slowly dying out.

in time to: before the time necessary to do something Examples of IN TIME TO He had good position but had not turned his head in time to see the ball arrive. Officers went to the hospital, but did not arrive in time to talk to the victim.