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Glite Dictionary
to call it a day

to call it a day

42 3.1
To stop working for the rest of the day
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : dejarlo por hoy
  • We finished most of the project, so let’s call it a day and continue tomorrow.

One, they could just call it a day and that's that.

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Examples

Synonyms

to call it
vsto call it a day
  • Informal
324 4.7

Decide to stop an activity and finish for now

stops specifically for the rest of the day
to get off
vsto call it a day
246 2.1

To finish work at the end of your shift

stops work for the rest of the day even if before scheduled time
to leave off
vsto call it a day
  • Informal
104 4.1

Stop doing something for a short time, for example at a point in a book

stops for the rest of the day rather than only pausing briefly
to call it a night
vsto call it a day
  • Informal
52 3.2

Stop what you are doing for the evening, usually to go to bed or go home

stops for the rest of the day rather than only the evening
to call it quits
vsto call it a day
  • Informal
34 3.9

To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough

stops for the rest of the day without implying permanent ending
to call it stumps
vsto call it a day
  • UK
9.6

To stop working or playing and finish for now

ends the activity for the rest of the day rather than simply finishing

Antonyms

to continue
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

How Final

to call it quits
  • Informal
34 3.9
to quit
668 1.0
to call it a day
  • Informal
42 3.1
to take a break
496 1.4
to pause
346 1.0

Surface Forms

call it a day infinitive
called it a day past
called it a day past participle
calling it a day present participle
calls it a day third person singular

Morphology

call + it + a + day

The verb 'call' (to designate) and the construction 'call X a Y' provide a partial clue, but 'a day' is used metaphorically so the phrase means 'stop for the day' rather than literally naming a day. This idiomatic extension makes the sense not fully predictable from the constituents, so a B1 learner who knows the words would likely need prior exposure or explanation.

Etymology

The phrasal verb call it a day may come from old workplaces where a boss would literally call that the day was over, telling workers to stop. So now it means 'to stop working or doing something for the rest of the day'.