call it a day

Idioms  

1. Stop a particular activity for the rest of the day, as in It's past five o'clock so let's call it a day. Similarly, call it a night means “to stop something for the rest of the night,” as in One more hand of bridge and then let's call it a night. The original phrase was call it half a day, first recorded in 1838, which referred to leaving one's place of employment before the work day was over. The first recorded use of call it a day was in 1919, and of call it a night in 1938. Also see call it quits.

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Example Sentences

“It’s time for me to call it a day,” Coverdale said in his Thursday video.

From Los Angeles Times

The band, in the middle of an exhausting six-month tour, decided to call it a day.

From BBC

But at the height of their popularity they dramatically called it a day in 2001, as the stress and pressures of fame and an unrelenting schedule took a toll on all of them.

From BBC

"But yeah, it's time. It's the right time for me to call it a day with England."

From BBC

"He'd become less committed in my opinion and at that point it was time to shake hands and call it a day," said Kleanthous.

From BBC

Related Words

• achieve
• break up
• cease
• close
• complete
• conclude
• culminate
• delay
• drop
• expire
• finish
• give up
• halt
• play out
• quit
• resolve
• settle
• stop
• terminate
• wind up