call off

call off

1. To cancel a project, event, or activity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "call" and "off." Stop all printing—the boss has called off this project! I was supposed to go out tonight, but Marisa is sick and called off our dinner. The coach called football practice off because of the rain.
2. To stop or restrain a person or animal that is behaving aggressively. A noun or pronoun can be used between "call" and "off." Can you please call off your mother so she stops interrogating me? I'll tell you anything you want to know, just call off your dogs!
See also: call, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

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
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • base off (of) (something else)
  • check off
  • bite off
  • blow off the map
  • blow someone/something off
  • blow off
  • beg off
  • brass off
References in periodicals archive
Manager Craig Gupwell said: "It's getting pretty frustrating the number of call offs we've had now.
Adverse weather hits the fixtures
Referee Dave Pearson, centre, discusses his decision to call off last night's match with Ireland's Declan Kidney, second right, and France's Philippe Saint-Andre, right.
PARIS MATCH IS FROZEN OUT
Neil Mackenzie Ross, clerk of the course at Lingfield and Folkestone "Nobody wants to call off meetings late, but everyone wants to give racing every chance.
INDUSTRY VIEW ON WHEN TO ABANDON
Dewsbury-based Rixonway Kitchens, one of the leading manufacturers working in affordable and social housing, is saving Apollo building contractors 12 working days of time a year with its Call Off Manager system.
Helping to save time
Aslef said a decision to call off tomorrow's strike had not been formally made.
Union boss: Rail strike set to be called off
The call off is for the manufacture and supply of additional subsea production equipment.
FMC Technologies receives call-off order from Total Exploration & Production Angola
The decision to call off the meeting came after an order of the civil judge ( senior division) Mohanlalganj, Lucknow.
EMERGENCY BAI MEETING CALLED OFF
After meeting the Chief Labour Commissioner we have decided to call off strike," said Rao.
Air India calls off strike
Global Banking News-16 March 2010-Metro Bancorp and Republic First Bancorp call off plans to merge(C)2010 ENPublishing - http://www.enpublishing.co.uk
Metro Bancorp and Republic First Bancorp call off plans to merge
Liverpool were quick to stress the wellbeing of supporters was the reason for the call off.
Big chill bites into English top-flight
There has been no racing on turf since Plumpton's meeting on Sunday and it appears not even the allweather cards are safe from the elements after both Ling-field and Kempton were forced to call off their fixtures yesterday.
Jumpers left out in cold
Summary: The Queen has been forced to call off a school visit after a suspected outbreak of swine flu among pupils.
Queen cancels school visit after swine flu scare
NUJ members voted to call off the strike after learning staff from the axed papers working under the BPM Media and Midland Weekly Media North arms have been offered jobs elsewhere in the company.
Midland journalists call off strike over job losses
CHELTENHAM officials had no choice but to call off the top-class card after jump racing's HQ was lashed by heavy rain.
CHELTENHAM officials had no choice