call the dogs off

call the dogs off

To stop threatening or behaving aggressively toward someone. Call the dogs off! I'll tell you anything you want to know, just stop threatening me!
See also: call, dog, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

call the dogs off

 .
1. Lit. to order hunting or watch dogs to abandon their quarry. They robber gave up and the guard called the dogs off. Call off the dogs!
2. Fig. to stop threatening, chasing, or hounding [a person]. Tell the sheriff to call off the dogs. We caught the robber. Okay, you've caught me! Please call your dogs off!
See also: call, dog, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • stop sleeping on (someone or something)
  • get off (one's) high horse
  • get off high horse
  • ride on
  • ride on (something)
  • wipe the/that grin off (one's) face
  • wipe the/that smile, grin, etc. off your/somebody's face
  • whistle-stop
  • stop for
  • stop for (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
The driver was left with a "gaping hole" in his elbow, and a puncture wound in the hip, before Scott appeared and was able to call the dogs off.
Dog show judge in court after 'big, cuddly' Bernese mountain dog attacks delivery driver; Marian Scott, 67, of Low Eighton, Gateshead, was fined for owning a dangerously out of control dog, while her dog will now have to wear a lead and muzzle outside the house
You don't win like this, and so my advice to the candidates is to call the dogs off" Dame Tessa Jowell's advice to the Labour leadership hopefuls "I overheard a woman describe us as 'the blonde one, the dark one, the bearded one and the other one' - they thought we were Abba" Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on herself and her three rivals for the Labour leadership
TODAY'S QUOTES
Levein launched the nationwide search for the Cheque Centre PFA Scottish Manager of the Year at Hampden yesterday and took all of five minutes to call the dogs off again.
Walter put 7 past Housty at Ibrox but Arabs gaffer will still be my manager of the year; SAYS CRAIG LEVEIN
What is the hunt's intention when it takes hounds to a known fox haunt, induces them to hunt by trailing fox urine or cluster of foxes' tails and does not call the dogs off when they pursue a fox?
No sympathy for hunt pack; THE BIG ISSUE
The Bluebirds manager told Stoke's Welsh team boss TonyPulis: "Call the dogs off. Joe is not for sale."
Jones has a dog day afternoon with Pulis over Ledley
Richard Furlong, representing the league, said: "They made no attempt to call the dogs off.
Huntsmen 'blatantly ignored new laws as 20 deer chased'
His enemies scent blood - they're not about to call the dogs off.
RESULT!: Labour won't grin and Blair it much longer; IN ASSOCIATION WITH betfair
If Crossling and Harrison believed the convictions meant Chief Supt Braithwaite would call the dogs off, they were sorely mistaken.
The long road to justice
"People were out shouting at them to call the dogs off but they wouldn't.
UDA FEED CATS TO DOGS
And the Sunderland MP had a strong message for Jeremy Corbyn - "call the dogs off".
'Call off the dogs Mr Corbyn' - MP's message to Labour leader after being deluged with abuse; Washington and Sunderland West MP Sharon Hodgson has taken the fight back to online trolls after being inundated with abuse
Today Mr King again called for action, urging the Government to "call the dogs off" on tax demands and demanding that the council "puts its money where its mouth is".
It's 'now or never' for LDV rescue; King: The Government and council must step in now
The Bluebirds manager told Stoke's Welsh team boss Tony Pulis: "Call the dogs off. Joe is not for sale."
Jones has a dog day afternoon with Pulis over Ledley