call it a night

/kɔːl ɪt ə naɪt/

to decide to stop an activity and go to bed

After a long day, I decided to call it a night and go home.

I decided to stop my activities and go to bed because I was tired.

◆ What It Really Means

To decide to stop an activity and go to bed or leave for the night.

¶ Literal Meaning

To name or refer to something as a night.

Literal Breakdown

callto name or refer to something+itsomething previously mentioned or understood+a nightthe period of darkness between sunset and sunrise

◇ Mental Image

The phrase evokes the idea of ending a day's activities and preparing for sleep, as if 'calling' the night to begin.

◈ When to Use

After a long day at work, you might say to your coworkers, 'I think I'll call it a night and head home.'

◉ Cultural Note

This phrase is widely used in English-speaking countries and reflects the cultural practice of winding down and resting after a day's activities.

informal

To decide to end an activity, especially socializing or working, and go to bed or leave for the night.

We were having fun at the party, but by midnight, everyone was ready to call it a night.

We were enjoying ourselves, but by midnight, everyone decided to stop partying and go home.

After working late, I called it a night and went to bed.

I decided to stop working and go to sleep after staying up late.

This phrase is commonly used to indicate that someone is tired or ready to end their activities for the day.

Synonyms

to stop working or doing an activity for the day

This phrase is typically used when someone is tired or ready to end their activities for the night.

The phrase likely originated from the idea of 'calling' an end to something, similar to how one might 'call a meeting to order.'

This phrase is informal and commonly used in casual conversation to indicate that someone is ready to stop an activity and rest.

English Dictionary