verb

call it off

kawl it OFF

Call it off (verb) means to cancel something that had been arranged or was already under way. Example: “The weather closed in, so they called it off at half time.”

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."

"If the funding falls through we'll have to call it off."

To end a relationship or engagement.

"They called it off six weeks before the wedding."

To order a dog or a person to stop attacking or pursuing.

"Call it off — the man's already down!"

How to use call it off

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo cancel something that was planned.

When to use it

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.

Memory tip

Calling something off cancels it entirely. Putting it off only delays it to another date.

Easily confused with

call out call in break it off put it off

Common pairings

call off the wedding call off the search call off the strike call off the deal call the whole thing off

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “call it off” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

If the funding falls through we'll have to _____.

Synonyms

View more →

cancel abandon scrap abort scrub break it off split up

Antonyms

go ahead proceed

Related words

can go end stop act bit process natural

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.

What is the meaning of call it off?

"call it off" (verb) means to cancel something that had been arranged or was already under way.

What is another word for call it off?

Other words for "call it off" include cancel, abandon, scrap, abort, scrub, break it off.

People also searched

can go end stop act bit process natural