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call it a day

 - 5 dictionary results

day

[dey]
–noun
1. the interval of light between two successive nights; the time between sunrise and sunset: Since there was no artificial illumination, all activities had to be carried on during the day.
2. the light of day; daylight: The owl sleeps by day and feeds by night.
3. Astronomy.
a. Also called mean solar day. a division of time equal to 24 hours and representing the average length of the period during which the earth makes one rotation on its axis.
b. Also called solar day. a division of time equal to the time elapsed between two consecutive returns of the same terrestrial meridian to the sun.
c. Also called civil day. a division of time equal to 24 hours but reckoned from one midnight to the next. Compare lunar day, sidereal day.
4. an analogous division of time for a planet other than the earth: the Martian day.
5. the portion of a day allotted to work: an eight-hour day.
6. a day on which something occurs: the day we met.
7. (often initial capital letter) a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance: New Year's Day.
8. a time considered as propitious or opportune: His day will come.
9. a day of contest or the contest itself: to win the day.
10. Often, days. a particular time or period: the present day; in days of old.
11. Usually, days. period of life or activity: His days are numbered.
12. period of existence, power, or influence: in the day of the dinosaurs.
13. light 1 (def. 19a).
14. call it a day, to stop one's activity for the day or for the present; quit temporarily: After rewriting the paper, she decided to call it a day.
15. day in, day out, every day without fail; regularly: They endured the noise and dirt of the city day in, day out. Also, day in and day out.

Origin:
bef. 950; ME; OE dæg; c. G Tag
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To call it a day
call   (kôl)   
v.   called, call·ing, calls

v.   tr.
  1. To say in a loud voice; announce: called my name from across the street; calling out numbers.

  2. To demand or ask for the presence of: called the children to dinner; call the police.

  3. To demand or ask for a meeting of; convene or convoke: call the legislature into session.

  4. To order or request to undertake a particular activity or work; summon: She was called for jury duty. He was called to the priesthood.

  5. To give the command for; order: call a work stoppage.

    1. To communicate or try to communicate with by telephone: called me at nine.

    2. To dial (a telephone number): call 911 for help.

    3. To demand payment of: call a loan.

    4. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.

    5. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.

    6. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    7. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    8. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    9. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    10. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    11. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  6. To lure (prey) by imitating the characteristic cry of an animal: call ducks.

  7. To cause to come to the mind or to attention: a story that calls to mind an incident in my youth.

  8. To name: What will you call the baby?

  9. To consider or regard as being of a particular type or kind; characterize: Let's call the game a draw. I'd hardly call him a good manager.

  10. To designate; label: Nobody calls me a liar.

    1. To demand payment of: call a loan.

    2. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.

    3. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.

    4. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    5. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    6. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    7. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    8. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    9. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  11. Sports

    1. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    2. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    3. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    4. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    5. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    6. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  12. Games

    1. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    2. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  13. To indicate or characterize accurately in advance; predict: It is often difficult to call the outcome of an election. See Synonyms at predict.

  14. To challenge the truthfulness or genuineness of: called the debater on a question of fact.

  15. To shout directions in rhythm for (a square dance).

v.   intr.
    1. To speak loudly; shout: a swimmer who was calling for help.

    2. To utter a characteristic cry. Used of an animal: geese calling in early morning.

  1. To communicate or try to communicate with someone by telephone: I called twice, but no one answered.

  2. To pay a short visit: We called to pay our respects. He called on the neighbors but they weren't home.

n.  
  1. A loud cry; a shout.

    1. The characteristic cry of an animal.

    2. A sound or an instrument made to imitate such a cry, used as a lure: a moose call.

    3. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.

    4. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.

    5. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    6. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    7. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    8. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    9. A demand for payment of a debt.

    10. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    11. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    12. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  2. A telephone communication or connection.

  3. Need or occasion: There was no call for an apology.

  4. Demand: There isn't much call for buggy whips today.

  5. A claim on a person's time or life: the call of duty.

  6. A short visit, especially one made as a formality or for business or professional purposes.

  7. A summons or invitation.

    1. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.

    2. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.

    3. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    4. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    5. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    6. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    7. A demand for payment of a debt.

    8. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    9. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    10. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

    1. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    2. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    3. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    4. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    5. A demand for payment of a debt.

    6. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    7. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    8. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  8. A roll call.

  9. A notice of rehearsal times posted in a theater.

  10. Sports

    1. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    2. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    3. A demand for payment of a debt.

    4. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    5. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    6. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  11. A direction or series of directions rhythmically called out to square dancers.

    1. A demand for payment of a debt.

    2. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    3. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    4. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  12. To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.

  13. To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.

  14. To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.

  15. To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.

  16. To invoke, as from heaven.

  17. To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.

  18. To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.

  19. To require; demand: work that calls for patience.

  20. To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.

  21. To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.

  22. To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?

  23. To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.

  24. To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.

  25. To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.

  26. To challenge to a duel.

  27. To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.

  28. To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.

  29. To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.

  30. To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.

  31. To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.

Phrasal Verb(s):
call back
  1. To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.

  2. To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.

  3. To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.

call down
  1. To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.

  2. To invoke, as from heaven.

call for
  1. To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.

  2. To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.

  3. To require; demand: work that calls for patience.

call forthTo evoke; elicit: a love song that calls forth sad memories.
call in
  1. To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.

  2. To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.

  3. To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?

call off
  1. To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.

  2. To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.

call onTo order or request to undertake a particular activity: called on our friends to help.
call out
  1. To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.

  2. To challenge to a duel.

call up
  1. To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.

  2. To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.

  3. To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.

call upon
  1. To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.

  2. To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.


Idiom(s):
call a spade a spadeTo speak directly, precisely, and forthrightly.

Idiom(s):
call in/into questionTo raise doubts about.

Idiom(s):
call it a day Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the day or at least for the present.

Idiom(s):
call it a night Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the night.

Idiom(s):
call it quits Informal To stop working or trying; quit.

Idiom(s):
call namesTo speak to or about another in offensive terms.

Idiom(s):
call of natureA need to urinate or defecate. Often used with answer: He left the room to answer the call of nature.

Idiom(s):
call (someone's) bluffTo challenge another with a display of strength or confidence.

Idiom(s):
call the shots/tune Informal To exercise authority; be in charge.

Idiom(s):
on call
  1. Available when summoned for service or use: physicians who were on call for 48 hours.

  2. Subject to payment on demand.


Idiom(s):
within callClose enough to come if summoned: The nurse is within call if you need him.

[Middle English callen, probably from Old Norse kalla; see gal- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to demand or request to appear, come, or assemble: called a taxi; convened a meeting; will convoke the legislature; mustering the militia; summoned a witness.
Our Living Language  : African American Vernacular English (AAVE) uses call oneself with a present participle, as in They call themselves dancing, to express the idea that the people being talked about are not very good at what they're doing (in this example, dancing), even though they may think they are. This construction has a structure and meaning similar to the Standard English use of call oneself with a noun phrase or adjective, as in She calls herself intelligent or He calls himself a dancer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

day 
O.E. dæg, from P.Gmc. *dagaz, from PIE *dhegh-. Not considered to be related to L. dies (see diurnal), but rather to Skt. dah "to burn," Lith. dagas "hot season," O.Prus. dagis "summer." Meaning originally, in Eng., "the daylight hours," expanded to mean "the 24-hour period" in late O.E. Daydream is 1685 (n.), 1820 (v.). Day off first recorded 1883; day-tripper first recorded 1897; daylight in slang sense of "clear open space between two things" is from 1820. Day-Glo is 1951, proprietary name (Dane & Co. of London) for a brand of fluorescent paint. The days in nowadays, etc. is a relic of the O.E. and M.E. use of the adverbial genitive.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Science Dictionary
day   (dā)  Pronunciation Key 
See under sidereal time, solar day.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

call it a day

Stop a particular activity for the rest of the day, as in It's past five o'clock so let's call it a day. Similarly, call it a night means "to stop something for the rest of the night," as in One more hand of bridge and then let's call it a night. The original phrase was call it half a day, first recorded in 1838, which referred to leaving one's place of employment before the work day was over. The first recorded use of call it a day was in 1919, and of call it a night in 1938. Also see call it quits.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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