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Glite Dictionary
to call it quits

to call it quits

36 3.9
To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
: tirar la toalla
  • Don't you think it's time to call it quits?

And they kind of dangle leaving or walking out or calling it quits as a sort of quiet threat.

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Examples

Synonyms

to give up
vsto call it quits
∞ 1.2

To stop trying to do something or accept defeat

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than surrendering due to despair
to cease
vsto call it quits
440 3.6

To stop or come to an end

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than simply ceasing formally
to drop out
vsto call it quits
304 3.0

To leave a course, competition or group before finishing

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than leaving before completion
to finish up
vsto call it quits
244 2.0

To complete an activity or task

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than completing a planned task
to pull out
vsto call it quits
228 3.4

To stop being involved in an activity or agreement

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than formally withdrawing by choice
to quit
vsto call it quits
218 1.5

To stop trying when something is too hard

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than merely exiting from frustration
to give it up
vsto call it quits
217 3.7

To stop doing something you once did

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than casually ending a habit
to cut it
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
156 7.2

Stop doing something annoying when someone tells you

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than from someone else's order
to call it
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
140 4.7

Decide to stop an activity and finish for now

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than by plan
to give it a rest
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
45 6.9

To stop doing or talking about something because it annoys other people

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than because something annoys others
to call it a day
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
40 3.1

To stop working for the rest of the day

stops when finished or unable rather than only pausing until tomorrow
to wind up
vsto call it quits
30 3.7

Bring an activity or meeting to an end

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than formally concluding events
to throw in the towel
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
28 4.8

To stop trying because you know you cannot succeed

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than admitting failure
to bow out
vsto call it quits
24 4.9

To stop doing a job or role politely

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than exiting politely
to close the book on
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
7 5.3

Decide that a matter has ended and do nothing more about it

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than formally ending it forever
to cut bait
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
6 8.8

Stop wasting time and either act now or give up a plan that does not work

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than to avoid wasting time
to put a full stop
vsto call it quits
  • UK
1 3.6

End something completely so it does not continue

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than declaring absolute finality
to drop by the wayside
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
1 7.5

Stop taking part because it becomes too difficult

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than passively failing to progress
to jack it
vsto call it quits
  • Slang
1 9.9

To stop doing something suddenly because you are frustrated

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than abruptly abandoning from frustration
to chuck up the sponge
vsto call it quits
  • UK
9.9

To stop trying because it seems pointless

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than only admitting defeat
to call it stumps
vsto call it quits
  • UK
9.6

To stop working or playing and finish for now

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than merely announcing an end

Antonyms

to continue
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

to persist
80 3.5

To keep existing for a long time, often longer than expected

How Final

to give up
∞ 1.2
to call it quits
  • Informal
36 3.9
to call it a day
  • Informal
40 3.1
stop
117 1.0
to pause
336 1.0

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

call + it + quit

The core meaning is partially recoverable because 'quit' means 'stop' and 'call' can mean 'declare' or 'name', so a learner could infer 'declare stopping'. However, the idiomatic use of the dummy pronoun 'it' and the nominalized plural 'quits' makes the exact form and pragmatics less predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Call it quits may come from people in games or arguments who would say call and then quits to agree the match or work was over, with quits meaning 'done'. That's why today it means 'to stop doing something'.