Select the most appropriate phrasal verb to fill in the blank.

The company’s profits were low and they were forced to _________ staff.

lay off

The most appropriate phrasal verb to fill in the blank is lay off.

The sentence is about a company that has to let go of some of its employees due to financial difficulties. The phrasal verb "lay off" means to dismiss an employee from their job, typically because of redundancy.

The other options are not as appropriate:

• Lisp off is not a phrasal verb. It is a verb that means to speak with a lisp.
• Lay on means to provide or supply something in abundance. It would not be accurate to use "lay on" in this context, as the company is not providing or supplying its employees in abundance.
• Lie on means to rest or recline on something. It would not be accurate to use "lie on" in this context, as the company is not resting or reclining on its employees.