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

1. stop doing what one is doing
   • At midnight, the student decided to call it quits and closed his books