【词组解析】

1. lay off 暂时解雇，裁员；停止工作[活动]；停止做某种不快的事；暂时解雇

（1）The doctor told me to lay off for a week.

        医生要我休息一周。

（2）Then we had to lay off thousands of people.

       其次,我们不得不解雇了数以千计的人。

2. leave alone 不理，不管[惹]，不烦扰，不干涉

（1）Leave the child alone; you're always picking at her.

       不要管那孩子，你总是找她的茬儿。

（2）He will leave alone things that might cause trouble.

       他从来不干会招惹是非的事。

3. let the cat out of the bag 真相大白，秘密泄露； 露马脚； 露出狐狸尾巴； 露馅儿

（1）We tried to keep the party a surprise for my mother but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

       我们原打算来一个晚会使妈妈意想不到，但我妹妹泄露了秘密。

（2）I let the cat out of the bag with only one day to go.

       只剩最后一天了，我却泄露了秘密。

4. liable for 对...有责任

（1）You will be liable for any damage caused.

       你必须对造成的任何损失负赔偿责任。

（2）Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent.

       租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

5. liable to 易于

（1）We are all liable to make mistakes when we're tired.

        我们疲劳的时候都容易出错。

（2）People are liable to judge others from their own first impressions.

       人们容易用他们自己的最初印象来评价别人。

【练习】

英译中：

（1）He told the boys to lay off making noises.

（2）When the boss gets mad, leave him alone.

（3）Really? Who let the cat out of the bag?

（4）He is liable for the fault of his son.

（5）The Act states that anyone committing the offence is liable to imprisonment.