Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to call it quits

to call it quits

34 3.9
To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : 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.

Autoplay Next

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 give it up
vsto call it quits
683 3.7

To stop doing something you once did

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than casually ending a habit
to quit
vsto call it quits
653 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 call it
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
324 4.7

Decide to stop an activity and finish for now

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than by plan
to cease
vsto call it quits
324 3.6

To stop or come to an end

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than simply ceasing formally
to cut it
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
216 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 drop out
vsto call it quits
214 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 pull out
vsto call it quits
206 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 finish up
vsto call it quits
190 2.0

To complete an activity or task

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than completing a planned task
to give it a rest
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
48 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
42 3.1

To stop working for the rest of the day

stops when finished or unable rather than only pausing until tomorrow
to throw in the towel
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
27 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
20 4.9

To stop doing a job or role politely

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than exiting politely
to wind up
vsto call it quits
17 3.7

Bring an activity or meeting to an end

stops because one feels finished or cannot continue rather than formally concluding events
to close the book on
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
5 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 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 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 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 jack it
vsto call it quits
  • Slang
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 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
to cut bait
vsto call it quits
  • Informal
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

Antonyms

to continue
∞ 1.0

To keep doing something without stopping

to persist
61 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
34 3.9
to call it a day
  • Informal
42 3.1
stop
310 1.0
to pause
346 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'.