call off

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call off (third-person singular simple present calls off, present participle calling off, simple past and past participle called off)

1. (transitive) To recall; to cancel or call a halt to.

   Synonyms: cancel, withcall

   If you want me to call off the dog, then get off my land.

   After four months, the police called off the search for the missing boy.

   • 1927, Henry William Williamson, Tarka the Otter, Chapter 19:

     Again the opening grew dark with arms holding and guiding another terrier, and Biff began to climb. Wough! wough! wough! Soon she fell into the water. The terriers were called off. Tarka settled more easily, but Tarquol could not rest.

   • 1937, “Let's Call the Whole Thing Off”, Ira Gershwin (lyrics), George Gershwin (music):

     You say either and I say either,
     You say neither and I say neither
     Either, either Neither, neither
     Let's call the whole thing off

   • 2022 September 21, “Network News: Unions postpone action during period of national mourning”, in RAIL, number 966, page 15:

     National rail strikes by ASLEF members on September 15 and by RMT members on September 15 and 19 were immediately called off.

   • 2024 April 5, Chappell Roan, Justin Tranter, Dan Nigro, “Good Luck, Babe!”‎performed by Chappell Roan:

     I don't wanna call it off
     But you don't wanna call it love
     You only wanna be the one that I call "baby"

2. (intransitive) To telephone in one's notice of a day's absence from work.

   Synonym: call in sick

• call-off
• call off the dogs