called it a day

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "called it a day" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that one has finished working for the day or has decided to stop an activity. Example: "After hours of brainstorming, we finally called it a day and decided to continue tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Music

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Then he called it a day.

The New York Times - Sports

Other times, they called it a day.

The New Yorker

"They could've called it a day".

The New York Times

He said: "It's time Bright Tribe called it a day.

The Guardian

Another paper called it "a day of shame".

The New York Times - Sports

James Anderson wrote: "Really sad to hear Straussy has called it a day.

The Guardian - Sport

And on these two haunting notes, the main program at CPAC called it a day.

The Guardian

You could have done some shooting along the borders and called it a day".

The New York Times

– that REM were back on track by the time they called it a day in 2011.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

One of them called it "A-Day," for amnesty, and invoked the fall of the Roman Empire.

The New York Times

He called it "a day-by-day situation" and said the injury was a "freak event".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "called it a day" to signal the end of a task or work period, especially when you want to convey a sense of finality for that specific day. For alternatives, consider if you want to focus more on simple completion (use "finished for the day") or the act of stopping work ("stopped working").

Common error

Avoid using "called it a day" in situations where you only intend to take a short break or pause temporarily. This phrase indicates a definitive end, so using "took a break" might be more appropriate if the activity is not truly over.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "called it a day" functions as an idiomatic expression, signifying the termination of an activity, typically work, for the day. Ludwig's examples confirm this usage across various contexts, highlighting its role in indicating completion or cessation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Music

15%

Less common in

Sports

15%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "called it a day" is a very common idiomatic phrase used to indicate the end of an activity or work period. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, including news, business, music, and sports. While its register leans towards neutral, it is more commonly used in informal settings. To avoid mistakes, remember that this phrase indicates a definitive end, differentiating it from situations that require a short break or pause. You may use "finished for the day", "wrapped things up", or "stopped working" as valid and high-similarity alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

finished for the day

Directly indicates completion of work for the current day.

stopped working

Focuses on the cessation of work.

wrapped things up

Implies finishing a task or activity.

brought it to a close

More formal way to indicate the end of something.

ceased operations

Formal and business-oriented, implying a temporary halt.

knocked off

Informal, British English term for finishing work.

clocked out

Refers specifically to recording the end of work hours.

adjourned for the day

Formal term, often used in meetings or legal settings.

took a break

Indicates a temporary pause, not necessarily the end.

shut down operations

Implies a more significant or permanent halt.

FAQs

What does "called it a day" mean?

"Called it a day" means to stop working on something or to end an activity, usually for the rest of the day. It suggests a conclusion or completion, whether temporary or final.

What can I say instead of "called it a day"?

You can use alternatives like "finished for the day", "wrapped things up", or "stopped working" depending on the context.

Is "called it a day" formal or informal?

"Called it a day" is generally considered an informal expression. In more formal settings, you might prefer phrases like "adjourned for the day" or "brought it to a close".

Can "called it a day" refer to ending something permanently?

While "called it a day" usually implies ending something for the remainder of the current day, it can also refer to stopping something permanently, such as retiring from a job or abandoning a project altogether. The context determines the specific meaning.