call it a day

idiom

Formscalls it a day, calling it a day, called it a day

3 meanings of call it a day

1
idiomintransitive
To stop working on something, either because it is going badly or because you have done enough.
Like putting down your tools and saying that's enough for now.
After hours of trying to fix the old engine, they decided to call it a day.
We weren't getting anywhere, so we called it a day and went home.
Similarstop, quit, finish
Oppositecontinue, persevere
2
idiomintransitive
To stop doing an activity that you have been busy with.
Like closing a book when you decide to stop reading.
It was getting late, so we decided to call it a day.
They worked through the morning and then called it a day.
Similarstop, quit, finish, adjourn
Oppositecontinue, persist
3
idiomintransitive
To stop working for good and leave your job for the last time.
Like hanging up your work clothes for the very last time.
After forty years at the factory, my grandfather decided to call it a day.
She called it a day at sixty-five and moved to the coast.
Similarretire, quit

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of call it a day apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from an older phrase, "call it half a day," from about 1834, which meant leaving work before the day was done.