call the whole thing off
Meaning
To cancel a plan, event, or arrangement completely, often after deciding it’s no longer workable or worth doing.
Origin
“Call off” is a phrasal verb meaning “cancel,” likely influenced by older uses like calling off dogs or stopping an activity by calling. “The whole thing” adds emphasis: cancel everything, not just part.
Notes
Common in everyday speech. Implies a complete cancellation (not a delay). Can sound disappointed or decisive; “the whole thing” adds emphasis. Informal to neutral register.
Examples
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After the storm warning, they called the whole thing off.
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If the venue can’t confirm by Friday, we’ll call the whole thing off.
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We were ready to launch, but one major bug made us call the whole thing off.
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The negotiation got so tense that both sides decided to call the whole thing off.
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She wasn’t feeling well, so they called the whole thing off and stayed home.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Built on separable phrasal verb “call off.” Object can go between or after: “call the meeting off / call off the meeting.” With pronouns, it must be between: “call it off.” Tense/person inflects: called/ calling.
Synonyms
- call it off
- cancel
- scrap
- abandon
- nix
Antonyms
- go ahead with it
- carry on
- proceed
- follow through