call it a day

/ˌkɔːl ɪt ə ˈdeɪ/INFORMAL · C2

Meaning

to stop working for now

Examples

1The light was going, so the builders decided to call it a day.
2We had been packing boxes since eight, and by four we were ready to call it a day.
3After six hours of revision, Leo shut his laptop and called it a day.
4Shall we call it a day and finish the report tomorrow morning?
5The market traders call it a day as soon as the rain starts.

Grammar

Only call changes form; it a day stays fixed. Often follows let's or shall we.

Similar in meaning

burn the midnight oil keep your nose to the grindstone

More idioms about work and careers

All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →

learn the ropesto learn how a job is done pull your weightto do your fair share of the work snowed underhaving far too much work to deal with go the extra mileto make more effort than people expect get the sackto be dismissed from your job cut cornersto save time or money at the expense of quality

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