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Glite Dictionary
to call off the dogs

to call off the dogs

2 7.7
Stop criticizing or attacking someone after being angry
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : dejar de atacar
  • The manager had to call off the dogs when the team's criticism of the new policy became too harsh.

Examples

  • Call off the dogs.

    When Harry Met Sally... (1989)

  • If I felt like I was drowning or sinking, I could look at this and call off the dogs in my mind.

  • You got to call off the dogs.

    The Siege (1998)

  • Besides, it was too late to call off the dogs.

    Nobody Waved Goodbye (1964)

  • Monday morning, you need to go in there... and just call off the dogs.

    Reign Over Me (2007)

  • I'm hoping it's got something to do with calling off the dogs. That's exactly what it's about, sir, calling off the dogs.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • I'm hoping it's got something to do with calling off the dogs. That's exactly what it's about, sir, calling off the dogs.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • After hearing the apology, she decided to call off the dogs and not press charges.

  • With the misunderstanding cleared up, he was ready to call off the dogs and let things settle down.

Synonyms

to let it go
vsto call off the dogs
370 3.5

To choose not to react to something annoying

stops pursuing or attacking someone after earlier aggressive behavior
to back off
vsto call off the dogs
  • Informal
356 2.8

Move away from someone, or stop taking part in something

ends active pursuit or criticism rather than just stepping back
to lay off
vsto call off the dogs
  • Informal
102 3.4

Stop doing something that annoys someone

ends such actions after a period of persistent aggression
to let sleeping dogs lie
vsto call off the dogs
  • Informal
4 6.9

Avoid talking about old problems to prevent more arguments

stops active criticism or pursuit after aggression rather than avoiding new trouble
to pull in one's horns
vsto call off the dogs
  • UK
1 9.0

To become less confident and not try as hard after problems

reduces active criticism or pursuit of someone rather than lowering ambition

Antonyms

to pursue
∞ 3.5

To try to get something you want, like a job or a goal

attack
548 3.2

Strong words that criticize someone or something

Surface Forms

call off the dogs infinitive
called off the dogs past
called off the dogs past participle
calling off the dogs present participle
calls off the dogs third person singular

Morphology

call + off + the + dog

The components 'call off' (to cancel or stop) plus 'dogs' (metaphorically attackers or pursuers) give a plausible literal image of stopping animals being sent after someone, so part of the meaning is recoverable from the parts. However, the extension to 'stop criticizing or pursuing someone' relies on a cultural/idiomatic metaphor (dogs = pursuers/attackers) that a B1 learner may not automatically map, so the sense is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Call off the dogs comes from hunting, where hunters used packs of bold dogs to chase or attack prey and would shout to call off the dogs when they wanted them to stop. So today call off the dogs means 'stop criticizing or chasing someone'.