call off

2 meanings

Meanings
  1. 1 cancel something that was planned B1
  2. 2 tell a dog or person to stop attacking someone B2
1 call sth off

cancel something that was planned

B1

What does "call off" mean in this sense?

To call off a planned event means to cancel it completely — it will not happen at all. This phrasal verb is used for things like matches, weddings, strikes, meetings, and searches that were arranged in advance but then cancelled. It is different from delaying something: if you call something off, there are no plans to do it later. You will hear and read this phrasal verb a lot in news reports, especially about sports events cancelled because of bad weather, or industrial action that has been stopped. It works equally well in conversation and in writing.

Examples

How to use it

call off + event/activity

The most common pattern — the object (the event being cancelled) comes directly after the particle.

The organisers decided to call off the concert after the storm warning.

call + event/activity + off

With short noun objects, separating the verb and particle is very natural and common.

They called the match off because the pitch was flooded.

call + pronoun (it/them) + off

When the object is a pronoun, separation is always required — you must put the pronoun between the verb and the particle.

The trip was looking too expensive, so we called it off.

be called off

The passive form is very common, especially in news reports when the person who cancelled something is not the focus.

The outdoor festival was called off due to heavy rain.

decide / threaten / be forced to + call off

This phrasal verb often appears after verbs like decide, threaten, or be forced, describing a decision to cancel.

The union threatened to call off the talks if no agreement was reached.

Common Collocations

the weddingthe matchthe strikethe searchthe meetingthe deal

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When you use a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', you must put it between 'call' and 'off'. Placing it after 'off' is ungrammatical in English.

✗ They called off it at the last minute.
✓ They called it off at the last minute.
Confusing 'call off' with 'put off'

'Call off' means something is cancelled and will not happen at all. 'Put off' means it is delayed to a later time. These are not the same.

✗ The meeting was called off until next Friday.
✓ The meeting was put off until next Friday. / The meeting was called off entirely.
Using 'call off' with subscriptions or bookings

'Call off' is used for events and planned activities, not for subscriptions, tickets, or orders. Use 'cancel' in those cases.

✗ I called off my gym membership.
✓ I cancelled my gym membership.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. Unlike 'cancel', it is rarely used for subscriptions or tickets — it mainly refers to planned events, activities, or operations.

2 call sb off

tell a dog or person to stop attacking someone

B2

Sense 2: What does "call sb off" mean?

To call off a dog or person means to give a command that makes them stop attacking or threatening someone. The person giving the order is usually in a position of authority over the attacker — a dog owner, a security chief, a military commander, or even a crime boss. The key idea is that the attack or pursuit is already happening (or about to happen), and a verbal instruction brings it to a stop. This sense is distinct from the more common meaning of 'call off' (to cancel something), so the context — usually an animal or a threatening person — makes the meaning clear. It is used across a wide range of situations, from a real-life dog incident to a dramatic scene in a film.

Examples

How to use it

call off + attacking person/animal

The most common pattern, where the object is the dog, guard, or person doing the attacking.

Please call off your dog — it has me cornered against the fence.

call + pronoun + off

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'call' and 'off' — you cannot say 'call off them'.

The security dogs were closing in, so I shouted at the handler to call them off.

call + noun phrase + off

With a short noun phrase, the object can also be placed between 'call' and 'off', especially in direct commands.

She called the guard dog off the moment she recognised the visitor.

imperative: call off + object

This phrasal verb is very commonly used as an urgent command directed at the owner or handler.

Call off your men now, or this situation is going to get out of hand!

modal + call off + object

Modal verbs are often used to ask someone to issue the command or to describe their ability to do so.

Can you call off the patrol dogs while we walk across the yard?

Common Collocations

call off your dogcall off the guardscall it offcall off the houndscall him offcall off your men

Common Mistakes

Confusing the two senses of 'call off'

The 'cancel' sense of 'call off' takes events or plans as objects (a meeting, a match, a search). This sense takes animate objects — dogs, guards, soldiers. If you write 'call off the meeting', that means cancel it; 'call off the guard dogs' means stop them attacking.

✗ He called off his dog show because of the rain.
✓ He called off his dog show because of the rain. ✗ (This uses the cancel sense — correct only if the dog show is being cancelled, not if a dog is attacking.)
Pronoun placement

When using a pronoun like 'it', 'him', 'her', or 'them', you must separate the phrasal verb. Placing the pronoun after 'off' is not natural in standard English.

✗ Call off them before they reach the gate!
✓ Call them off before they reach the gate!
Using the passive

Although grammatically possible, the passive form is very rarely used in this sense. It sounds unnatural because there is almost always a clear, active subject — the owner or handler giving the command.

✗ The attack dogs were called off by the security chief.
✓ The security chief called off the attack dogs.

Usage

This sense is neutral in register and most often appears as an urgent command. It is common in both British and American English and is frequently used in spoken or narrative contexts involving animals or security personnel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'call off' always mean something is cancelled forever?

Yes, 'call off' implies the event or activity will not happen at all — not that it will happen later. If someone is simply moving the event to a different date, use 'put off' or 'postpone' instead.

Can 'call off' be used in the passive?

Yes, the passive is very natural and extremely common with this phrasal verb. You will often see it in news reports: 'The race was called off due to fog.' It works well when the person who cancelled something is not important or not known.

What kinds of things can you 'call off'?

Typically planned events or organised activities — things like weddings, matches, meetings, strikes, searches, rescue operations, trips, and deals. It does not usually collocate with subscriptions, bookings, or orders, where 'cancel' is the natural choice.

Is 'call off' used differently in British and American English?

No, 'call off' is equally common in both British and American English. There is no significant difference in meaning or frequency between the two varieties.

Can I say 'I am calling off the event' in the present continuous?

This sounds a little awkward unless you are actively in the process of cancelling something at that exact moment. It is much more natural to use the simple past ('they called off the event') or present perfect ('the event has been called off').

Does 'call off' always mean the attack is already happening?

Not necessarily — it can also be used when an attack is imminent or in progress. The important thing is that there is an active threat or pursuit being stopped. You might say 'Call off your dog!' the moment it starts growling, not just once it has already bitten someone.

Can I use 'call off' for people as well as animals?

Yes, absolutely. You can 'call off' guards, soldiers, bodyguards, or hired thugs — anyone who is attacking or threatening under someone else's orders. The logic is the same: a person in authority tells them to stop. For example, 'The general finally called off his soldiers.'

Is 'call off' in this sense common in everyday speech, or mainly in stories and films?

It appears in both. In everyday life, it is most often heard in urgent commands between dog owners and bystanders. In fiction, news reports, and film dialogue, it also describes guards, police dogs, or soldiers being ordered to stand down. It is equally natural in both British and American English.

Can I use the present continuous — like 'he is calling off his dogs'?

This sounds slightly unnatural unless you are describing an action that is clearly in the middle of happening and you need to emphasise its ongoing nature. In most situations, the simple past or imperative sounds much more natural — for example, 'He called them off' or 'Call them off now!'

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