call off

call off (third-person singular simple present calls off, present participle calling off, simple past and past participle called off)

1. (transitive) To recall; to cancel or call a halt to.

   Synonyms: cancel, withcall

   If you want me to call off the dog, then get off my land.

   After four months, the police called off the search for the missing boy.

   • 1937, “Let's Call the Whole Thing Off”, Ira Gershwin (lyrics), George Gershwin (music):

     You say either and I say either, / You say neither and I say neither / Either, either Neither, neither / Let's call the whole thing off

   • 2022 September 21, “Network News: Unions postpone action during period of national mourning”, in RAIL, number 966, page 15:

     National rail strikes by ASLEF members on September 15 and by RMT members on September 15 and 19 were immediately called off.

2. (intransitive) To telephone in one's notice of a day's absence from work.

   Synonym: call in sick

• call-off
• call off the dogs