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call off

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call someone (or an animal) off someone or something

 and call someone or an animal off

to request that someone or an animal stop bothering or pursuing someone or something; to call a halt to an attack by someone or an animal. Please call your dogs off my brother. Call off your spying on me, or else!

See also: call, off

call something off

to cancel an event. It's too late to call the party off. The first guests have already arrived. Because of rain, they called off the baseball game.

See also: call, off

call off something

also call something off

to decide not to do something that was planned Why should I call off the trip when I've already paid for it?

See also: call, off

call off

1. Summon away, restrain, as in Please call off your dog. [Early 1600s]

2. Cancel some plan or undertaking, as in She decided to call off their engagement, or In case of rain the picnic will be called off. [Late 1800s]

See also: call, off

call off

v.

1. To cancel or postpone something: We called off the trip when two of people who were supposed to go became sick. The union called the strike off after the management gave in to their demands.

2. To order someone or something to stop attacking or aggressing: The police called off the dogs after the suspect surrendered. The commander called his troops off when the enemy retreated.

See also: call, off