call off

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Explanation of "Call Off"

Definition:
The phrase "call off" is a verb that means to cancel something that was planned or scheduled. When you "call off" an event, it means it will not happen anymore.

Usage Instructions

• Use "call off" when you want to talk about canceling meetings, events, or plans.
• It is often used when something unexpected happens, like illness or emergencies, that makes the original plan impossible.

Examples

1. Simple Usage:

   • "We had to call off the picnic because of the rain."
   • "The teacher decided to call off the class due to bad weather."

2. Advanced Usage:

   • "The company had to call off the product launch after discovering a major flaw in the design."
   • "After much discussion, they decided to call off the contract negotiations."

Word Variants

• Noun: "Cancellation" - The act of calling something off. Example: "The cancellation of the concert disappointed many fans."

Different Meanings

• "Call off" primarily means to cancel, but it can also imply stopping an action or demand.
  • Example: "He had to call off the dog when it started chasing the cat."

Synonyms

• Cancel
• Abort
• Terminate
• Annul
• Drop

Idioms and Related Phrasal Verbs

• Scrap: To decide not to continue with something.

  • Example: "They decided to scrap the old project and start fresh."

• Put off: To delay something to a later time.

  • Example: "We had to put off our meeting until next week."

Summary

"Call off" is a useful phrase in English to express the idea of canceling plans or events. It’s important in both everyday conversations and in more formal settings.

Academic

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

Synonyms

• call
• cancel
• scratch
• scrub