call off

/ˌkɔl ˈɔf/

Reviewed on

Type

Phrasal verb

Meaning

  1. To cancel an event, activity, or planned arrangement.

    • Heavy rain forced organizers to call off the outdoor concert.

    • Did they call the meeting off because of the storm?

  2. To order a person or animal to stop attacking, chasing, or pursuing someone.

    • The security guard called off the guard dog immediately.

    • Tell your investigators to call off their pursuit before someone gets hurt.

How it's used

Both orders mean the same thing.

  • call off the event
  • call the event off

it and them go in the middle: “call it off.” Not “call off it.”

Management decided to call off the search.

Collocations

  • call off a meeting
  • call off the search
  • call off the wedding
  • call off a strike
  • call off the dogs

Synonyms