call off

British  

verb

1. to cancel or abandon

   the game was called off because of rain

2. to order (an animal or person) to desist or summon away

   the man called off his dog

3. to stop (something) or give the order to stop

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call off Idioms  

1. Summon away, restrain, as in Please call off your dog . [Early 1600s]

2. Cancel some plan or undertaking, as in She decided to call off their engagement , or In case of rain the picnic will be called off . [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Three sold-out gigs by the US star singer at Vienna's Ernst Happel Stadium were called off.

From BBC

Sheriff’s officials have called off a search for a California skier missing since Christmas in the Tahoe area.

From Los Angeles Times

Ties improved in 2024, when China called off a ban on imported Australian rock lobster, removing the final obstacle to ending a damaging trade war waged between the countries from 2017.

From Barron's

Spanish unions called off a three-day railway strike on Monday after reaching an agreement with the government over safety and maintenance standards demanded following two accidents that claimed 47 lives.

From Barron's

"They dropped a bomb at Hiroshima and it was all called off," he said on the 75th anniversary of VJ day in 2020.

From BBC