call it a day
To cease an activity.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“We were tired, so we called it a day.”
“After eight hours of painting, the workers decided to call it a day.”
“When the rain refused to stop and the light began to fade, the film crew finally called it a day and packed up.”
first recorded 19th c. disputed origin
Originally 'call it half a day' (US, 1838), said of workers quitting before the working day was over; shortened to 'call it a day' by the late 19th century.
- 01
a cold day in July
The time of occurrence of an event that will never happen.
- 02
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 03
a year and a day
A long time.
- 04
all one's born days
One's whole life.
- 05
answer the call of nature
To satisfy a bodily urge to urinate or defecate.
- 06
as the day is long
Unceasingly; very; thoroughly; to a very high degree.
- 07
bad hair day
A day when things seem to be unmanageable or go wrong.
- 08
bad old days
The past, seen as a time when things were worse.
Last updated August 10, 2026