call-it-a-day
/ˌkɔːl ɪt ə ˈdeɪ/ IELTSAcademic
idiom
to stop working or doing something for the rest of the day. People say it when they want to end work, a meeting, or an activity.
- Let's call it a day and finish tomorrow.
- After six hours, they called it a day.
- I'm tired, so let's call it a day.
Adinary Nuance
Call it a day is more natural than simply saying 'stop' when you want to end work or an activity. It sounds friendly and everyday, not harsh. Writers often choose it when the decision is final but relaxed. It is different from 'take a break', which means to pause and continue later.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- nghỉ làm
- Spanish
- dar por terminado
- Chinese
- 收工
- Japanese
- 切り上げる
- Korean
- 마무리하다
Etymology
This phrase appeared in American English in the early 1900s. It comes from the simple idea of ending the day's work.
Common phrases
call it a daylet's call it a dayafter a day, call it a day
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is call it a day formal or informal?
- It is informal and common in speech and everyday writing.
- Does call it a day mean stop forever?
- No. It usually means stop for now, especially for the rest of the day.
- Is call it a day used in business English?
- Yes, it is common in meetings and office talk.
- What is the difference between call it a day and take a break?
- Call it a day means you are done. Take a break means you will continue later.