call it a day
To stop working, either at one's job or on a particular task, for the rest of the day. When we still couldn't find the source of the discrepancy, we decided to call it a day and revisit it tomorrow. This package is the last one. Once we get this shipped, we can call it a day. We've made good progress, but there's still a ton of work left before we can call it a day.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
call it a day
to quit work and go home; to say that a day's work has been completed. I'm tired. Let's call it a day. The boss was mad because Tom called it a day at noon and went home.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
call it a day
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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
call it a day
COMMON
1. If you call it a day, you decide to stop doing something you have been doing that day. I searched for hours but I had to call it a day when darkness fell. Note: In the evening, people sometimes say that they are going to call it a night. Tomorrow is going to be busy, so let's call it a night.
2. If someone calls it a day, they retire from their job. It's no secret I want his job when he calls it a day. He's finally decided to call it a day and retire as manager.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
call it a day
decide or agree to stop doing something, either temporarily or permanently. This expression comes from the idea of having done a day's work; in the mid 19th century, the form was call it half a day .
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
call it a ˈday
(informal) decide to stop doing something, especially something you have been doing for a long time: We’d painted half the room and were feeling a bit tired so we decided to call it a day.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
call it a day
Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the day or at least for the present.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
call it a day, to
To stop work for the time being. The phrase implies that a full day’s work has been done, whether or not the clock so indicates. Indeed, J. C. Neal in Charcoal Sketches (1838) spelled this out: “I’ve a great mind to knock off and call it half a day.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer