call it a night — to decide to stop doing something for the day and go to bed or rest
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: to decide to stop doing something for the day and go to bed or rest
Pronunciation (IPA): /kɔːl ɪt ə naɪt/
Example Sentences
- After studying for 8 hours straight, I decided to call it a night and watch Netflix instead.
- The poker game was getting intense, but when I lost my rent money, I had to call it a night.
- We've been working on this project since morning, let's call it a night and continue tomorrow.
call it a night
NOUN[/kɔːl ɪt ə naɪt/]
to decide to stop doing something for the day and go to bed or rest
a person stretches their arms while sitting at a cluttered desk with papers and a laptop. Their family member appears in the doorway pointing toward a clock showing late evening time. The worker begins closing the laptop and organizing papers into neat stacks. The desk lamp gets switched off as darkness settles outside the window. The family member smiles and gestures toward the bedroom area. The worker stands up and walks away from the workspace with a satisfied expression. someone deciding to stop working for the day and go to bed or rest
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
This phrase combines the verb 'call' (to name or declare something as) with 'night' (the dark period of the day). The idiom developed from the literal act of declaring a moment to be nighttime, evolving into a figurative expression meaning to stop an activity and end the day, typically used when one is tired or ready to rest.
Breakdown
call (to name or declare) + it (that thing) + a (indefinite article) + night (the dark period). The phrase treats the current moment as if naming it 'night,' thereby justifying cessation of activity.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“After studying for 8 hours straight, I decided to call it a night and watch Netflix instead.”
“The poker game was getting intense, but when I lost my rent money, I had to call it a night.”
“We've been working on this project since morning, let's call it a night and continue tomorrow.”
“My grandmother always calls it a night at 9 PM sharp, even during exciting movie scenes.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.