call it a day
KAWL it a DAY
/kɔːl ɪt ə deɪ/
To decide to stop working on something for the rest of the day.
Often used when someone is tired or feels they have accomplished enough.
The story behind the word. Originally 'call it a half-day' in the 1800s, used by workers who left before their shift was done. It eventually evolved into 'call it a day' to mean ending any workday.
Word relationships
- wrap up: 'Wrap up' means to finish a specific task; 'call it a day' means to stop working entirely for the day.
- burn the midnight oil: 'Burn the midnight oil' means to work late into the night.
Commonly confused with
- call it quits: 'Call it quits' can mean stopping forever; 'call it a day' is just for now.
Collocations
- ready to call it a day
- time to call it a day
- decided to call it a day
Example sentences
- "We've been at this for ten hours; let's call it a day and finish the rest tomorrow." Workplace
- "The coach decided to call it a day after the rain started to get heavy." Sports practice
Memory hook
Imagine a worker hanging up their hat and saying 'That's a full day's work!' Hang up the hat.
When not to use
Do not use if you are quitting a job permanently (use 'call it quits' instead).
Fun facts
- In the UK, people sometimes say 'call it a night' if they are working late.
Related words
Explore more words
take a break, retire, wrap up, adjourn, discontinue, walk away
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