calling it a night

USAGE SUMMARY

"calling it a night" is an idiomatic phrase and is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that you or someone else is ending an activity or a period of time. For example, "It's getting late, so I think I'll be calling it a night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

9 30 p.m. | Updated We're calling it a night.

The New York Times

At midnight they were thinking of calling it a night.

The New York Times - Style

And with that, I'm calling it a night.

The Guardian

He later posted the following, before "calling it a night": Been a long day.

Independent

In all, Ms. Yuan spent 1,500 renminbi, or nearly $250, before calling it a night.

The New York Times

The chicken even (a crowd pleaser, this) poos before eventually calling it a night.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

We called it a night.

The New York Times - Travel

Time to call it a night.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Decide to call it a night.

The New York Times

After that I called it a night.

The Guardian

By 2 a.m. some folks called it a night.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "calling it a night" when you want to casually indicate that you or others are concluding an activity, especially when it's late or after a long day. It's suitable for both personal and professional contexts where informality is acceptable.

Common error

Avoid using "calling it a night" in highly formal documents or presentations. Opt for more professional alternatives like "concluding for the day" or "adjourning" to maintain a formal tone.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "calling it a night" is that of an idiomatic expression used as a verb phrase. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It serves to indicate the end of an activity or session, often implying a decision to stop and rest.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "calling it a night" is a very common and correct idiomatic expression used to indicate the end of an activity or session, usually implying a decision to stop and rest. Ludwig AI confirms this, and the phrase appears frequently in news and media sources. While its use is generally considered neutral, it is important to consider the context and audience, as more formal alternatives may be appropriate in certain professional or scientific settings. Common related phrases include ""ending the evening"" and ""wrapping things up"". A key takeaway is to reserve "calling it a night" for scenarios where a casual or informal tone is acceptable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ending the evening

Focuses on the conclusion of the evening, implying a cessation of activities.

wrapping things up

Suggests finishing a task or activity, often used in a work-related context.

knocking off

An informal term, mainly British, for finishing work or stopping an activity.

signing off

Implies a formal or official end, often used in broadcasting or online communication.

packing it in

Suggests giving up or stopping an activity, often due to frustration or lack of progress.

retiring for the night

A more formal way of saying going to bed or ending the evening.

ceasing activities

A formal way of stating that actions or tasks are being brought to an end.

quitting for the day

Specifically refers to stopping work or activities related to the current day.

taking a break

Suggests a temporary pause rather than a complete end to the activities.

logging off

Specifically related to ending a session on a computer or online platform.

FAQs

What does "calling it a night" mean?

"Calling it a night" is an idiomatic expression that means deciding to end an activity and go to bed or go home, typically because it is late or you are tired.

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

You can use it like this: "After working on the project until 2 AM, we decided to "call it a night".".

What are some alternatives to "calling it a night"?

Some alternatives include "ending the evening", "wrapping things up", or "retiring for the night" depending on the context.

Is "calling it a night" appropriate for professional emails?

It depends on your relationship with the recipient. In general, it's best to use more formal language in professional emails, unless you have a close, informal working relationship. Consider alternatives like "concluding for the day" or "ending our session".