call it off
2 antonyms for call it off — opposites grouped by meaning.
Verb — To cancel something that had been arranged or was already under way.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To cancel something that had been arranged or was already under way.
“The weather closed in, so they called it off at half time.”
Opposites
go ahead
proceed
2. verb
To end a relationship or engagement.
“They called it off six weeks before the wedding.”
break it off
split up
Antonyms
go ahead
proceed
How to use call it off
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
call off the wedding
call off the search
call off the strike
call off the deal
call the whole thing off
Informal but widely used, including in news reporting. 'It' can be replaced by a specific object: call off the search, call off the strike, call off the deal.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'call it off' and 'put it off'?
'Call it off' cancels the thing altogether, with no new date. 'Put it off' postpones it, with the intention of doing it later. A cancelled wedding is called off; a delayed meeting is put off.
What does 'call off the dogs' mean?
Literally it means ordering hunting or guard dogs to stop the chase. Figuratively it means telling people to stop pursuing, pressuring or attacking someone — often used of lawyers, journalists or investigators.
