Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cancel something that was planned or scheduled: To decide that a previously arranged event, activity, or agreement will not happen.
   • To order someone or something to stop an action: To instruct, often authoritatively, that a current operation or pursuit should be halted.

Usage and Examples

• Meaning: To cancel a planned event:
  • The company had to call off the product launch due to supply chain issues.
  • Because of the heavy rain, they decided to call off the picnic.
• Meaning: To halt an ongoing operation or search:
  • The police decided to call off the search for the missing hiker at nightfall.
  • The manager called off the dogs when he realized it was a false alarm.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• The phrasal verb is separable. The object (the thing being canceled) can come between "call" and "off" or after the entire phrasal verb.
  • They called the meeting off. (Separated)
  • They called off the meeting. (Not separated)
• It often implies an official or formal decision to terminate plans. It is not typically used for casual changes of personal intention (e.g., "I changed my mind about going to the movies" would not use "call off").

Variants and Related Words

• Cancel (verb): A more general synonym for calling off an event.
  • They canceled the flight.
• Scrub (verb, informal): To cancel or abandon plans.
  • We had to scrub the mission.
• Postpone (verb): To delay to a later time, not cancel entirely.
  • They postponed the concert until next week.

Synonyms

• Cancel
• Abort
• Scrap
• Halt
• Terminate

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Call out: To summon, especially for help, or to criticize publicly.
  • They had to call out the fire department.
• Call on: To visit someone briefly; to formally ask someone to do something.
  • I will call on you tomorrow. / The teacher called on me to answer.

Related Idioms

• Call it a day: To decide to stop working on something for the time being.
  • We've done enough; let's call it a day.
• Call the shots: To be the person who makes the decisions.
  • She's the boss, so she calls the shots.

Verb

1. give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance
2. postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled
   • Call off the engagement
   • cancel the dinner party
   • we had to scrub our vacation plans
   • scratch that meeting--the chair is ill