calling it a day

USAGE SUMMARY

"calling it a day" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to indicate that you are finishing work or an activity for the day. Example: After hours of brainstorming, we decided to call it a day and continue tomorrow. Alternative expressions include "wrapping it up" and "finishing up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Universal thought about calling it a day.

The New York Times

We, however, were calling it a day.

The New York Times - Travel

Could Gorillaz be calling it a day?

The Guardian - Music

"So I'm calling it a day.

The Guardian - Sport

I bet he regrets calling it a day.

The Guardian - Sport

I'm guessing we'd all thought about calling it a day.

The Guardian - Music

This wasn't a case of getting tired and calling it a day.

The Washington Post

If the boss is still working, don't even think about calling it a day.

The Washington Post

At 78, Smith, a father figure in modern Scottish coaching, is calling it a day.

The Times

There is no shame (and often much wisdom), after various attempts, in calling it a day.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Instead of decamping to the Hudson Valley and calling it a day, might we suggest a move west, Dave?

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "calling it a day" when you want to informally suggest stopping work or an activity for the remainder of the current day. It implies a natural conclusion to efforts, often due to time constraints or fatigue.

Common error

Avoid using "calling it a day" when you intend to convey a permanent end to a project or endeavor. It's generally understood to mean stopping for the day, not forever.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "calling it a day" is as an idiomatic expression used as a verb phrase. It signifies the action of stopping work or an activity. Ludwig AI shows various examples across different contexts where this phrase is used to indicate the conclusion of a task for the day.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Reference

2%

Science

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "calling it a day" is a common idiomatic phrase used to indicate the conclusion of work or an activity, usually on an informal or neutral level. Ludwig AI validates this, showing its usage across various sources, primarily news and media. While grammatically correct, it's crucial to avoid misinterpreting it as a permanent cessation. Related phrases include "wrapping things up" and "knocking off", but these may have slightly different connotations. When writing, consider your audience and the context to determine if "calling it a day" is the most appropriate way to convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

wrapping things up

Focuses on the act of concluding tasks, emphasizing completion.

finishing up

Highlights the act of bringing something to an end.

quitting for the day

Emphasizes leaving a task unfinished until the next day.

knocking off

An informal way to say stopping work.

ceasing activity

A more formal way of indicating the end of an action.

ending the session

Suitable for structured activities like meetings or training.

ceasing work

Highlights the termination of employment or labor.

stopping for now

Implies a temporary halt, rather than a definitive end.

adjourning

A formal term for suspending a meeting to a future time.

taking a break

Suggests a pause rather than a complete cessation.

FAQs

How can I use "calling it a day" in a sentence?

"Calling it a day" is typically used to indicate that you are finishing work or an activity for the day. For example, "After working on the project for eight hours, we decided to call it a day".

What's a more formal alternative to "calling it a day"?

More formal alternatives include "ceasing operations for the day", or "adjourning for the day". The phrase "wrapping things up" can also be suitable in some business contexts.

Is it correct to say "called it a day" instead of "calling it a day"?

Yes, "called it a day" is the past tense form of the phrase. "Calling it a day" indicates an ongoing or future action, while "called it a day" describes a completed action.

What does it mean to "call it a day"?

To "call it a day" means to stop working on something, usually because you are tired or have run out of time. It implies ending an activity, with the expectation of resuming it later if necessary.