call off

USAGE SUMMARY

'call off' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use 'call off' to mean discontinue or cancel an event or arrangement. For example: "The company had to call off the meeting due to the snowstorm."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Call off the execution.

The Guardian

"Call off the strike," he said.

The New York Times

This made G. call off the suit.

The New Yorker

Why did Sherman call off the invasion?

The New York Times

Call off the deal, Peronella says.

The New Yorker

"Call off the dogs," the intermediary said.

The New Yorker

"Call off the dogs please.

The New York Times

4) Call off the search.

The Guardian - Sport

Stand down, please, call off the dogs.

The Guardian - Opinion

4.39am: Call off the dancing girls.

The Guardian

"They can call off their dogs now".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that "call off" is a separable phrasal verb. You can place the object between the words ("call the wedding off") or after them ("call off the wedding"). However, if the object is a pronoun, it must go in the middle: "call it off".

Common error

Do not use "call off" when you mean to challenge someone or draw attention to a mistake. Use "call out" for public challenges and "call off" strictly for cancellations or restraining someone.

Linguistic Context

"Call off" functions as a transitive phrasal verb. It consists of the base verb "call" combined with the adverbial particle "off". In its most common usage, it is separable, allowing the direct object to be placed either after the phrase or between the verb and the particle. According to Ludwig AI, it consistently maintains this structure across various formal and informal corpora.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Social Media

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "call off" is a versatile and essential phrasal verb in the English language. Based on data from Ludwig, it is most frequently used in News & Media to describe the cancellation of significant events like strikes, weddings, searches, and political referendums. Its primary grammatical characteristic is its separability, though writers must be careful to place pronoun objects in the middle (e.g., "call it off"). While it shares a high semantic similarity with "<a href="/s/cancel" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cancel", it carries a specific idiomatic weight when used in phrases like "call off the dogs", referring to stopping an attack or investigation. Whether in a professional headline or a casual conversation, "call off" remains a reliable and clear choice for expressing the termination of plans.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cancel

Most direct and formal synonym for general use

abort

Specifically used for missions, technical processes, or clinical procedures

scrub

Informal or technical jargon, often used in aerospace or sports

scratch

Informal, frequently used in sports or competitions to remove an entry

withdraw

Used when removing a proposal, candidacy, or military presence

rescind

Highly formal/legal term for revoking an offer, law, or agreement

terminate

Emphasizes the permanent end of a contract or process

drop

Informal way to say someone stopped pursuing a plan or lawsuit

halt

Focuses on stopping an ongoing activity immediately

postpone

Differs by implying the event will happen at a later date

FAQs

How do I use "call off" in a sentence?

You can use "call off" to indicate the cancellation of an event, such as in the sentence: "The referee decided to <a href="/s/call+off+the+game" target="_blank" rel="alternative">call off the game due to heavy rain."

What can I say instead of "call off"?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms like "<a href="/s/cancel" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cancel", "<a href="/s/abort" target="_blank" rel="alternative">abort", or "<a href="/s/withdraw" target="_blank" rel="alternative">withdraw".

Is "call off" formal enough for business writing?

Yes, it is widely used in business contexts (e.g., "call off a merger"), though "<a href="/s/cancel" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cancel" is slightly more formal.

What is the difference between "call off" and "cancel"?

While often interchangeable, "call off" is frequently used for searches, strikes, and protests, whereas "<a href="/s/cancel" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cancel" is the standard term for appointments and subscription services.