call it quits
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (Phrasal Verb): - To stop doing something; to cease an activity or effort: To decide to end a particular task, job, or period of work, often because one is tired or has done enough. - To agree to end a contest or disagreement, considering it even or settled: To mutually decide to stop competing or arguing, often without a clear winner or loser.
Usage and Examples
Stopping an activity:
- After working on the project for ten hours straight, we decided to call it quits for the day.
- I'm getting a headache from staring at the screen; I think I'll call it quits and continue tomorrow.
Ending a contest or relationship:
- The two boxers were so evenly matched that after 12 rounds, they simply called it quits.
- After years of arguing, the business partners finally called it quits and dissolved the company.
Advanced Usage and Nuance
- The phrase often implies a voluntary or mutual decision to stop, rather than being forced to stop by external factors.
- It can carry a tone of finality, suggesting the activity or relationship is ending completely, not just pausing.
- "Call it a day" is a very close synonym, though "call it quits" can sound slightly more definitive, especially when ending partnerships or contests.
Variants and Related Words
- Quit (verb): To leave, stop, or discontinue.
- He quit his job to travel the world.
- Call it a day (idiom): To decide to stop working for the day.
- It's getting dark; let's call it a day.
Synonyms
- Stop
- Cease
- Give up (can imply surrender)
- Pack it in (informal)
- Throw in the towel (idiomatic, from boxing)
Related Idioms and Phrases
- Call it even: To agree that a debt or competition is settled with no further obligation.
- You bought dinner last time, I'll get it tonight, and then we can call it even.
- Call off (phrasal verb): To cancel something.
- They called off the search due to bad weather.
Verb
- stop doing what one is doing
- At midnight, the student decided to call it quits and closed his books