call it a day

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.

Example Sentences

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.

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Since Reagan, every president I’ve covered has wanted to, at one point or another, flush the press down a large toilet and call it a day.

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

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"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.

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He had around half a dozen places to hit before he would call it a day.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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