Phrasal verb
Call off
What does 'call off' mean?
'Call off' means to cancel a planned event, stop an activity already in progress, or order an aggressive animal or person to stop. For example, 'The organisers called off the match because the pitch was flooded.' With pronouns, say 'call it off', not 'call off it'; use 'postpone' for a later time.
Key points
- 'Call off' commonly means cancel a planned event.
- It can stop an ongoing search or operation.
- It can command an aggressive animal to stop.
- Use 'call it off', never 'call off it'.
Can you use "Call off" yourself?
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
The full explanation
Call off means decide that a planned event will not happen, stop an activity that is already underway, or command an aggressive animal or person to stop attacking.
The department had to call off the seminar because the guest speaker missed her flight.
Why it works: The organizers canceled a planned academic event.
2 more examples
-
The captain called off the boat tour after thirty minutes when the fog became dangerous.
An activity that had already started was halted for safety reasons.
-
We wanted to hold the workshop outdoors, but heavy rain forced us to call it off.
The pronoun it sits between called and off to refer back to the workshop.
Read the full guide
Decide If a Planned Event Is Canceled
When you arrange an event, meeting, or lesson in advance and later decide that it will not take place, you use call off. This phrasal verb means cancel. It does not mean using a telephone to dial someone. People use it often for classes, sports matches, business meetings, and outdoor trips when circumstances prevent the plan from happening.
-
The committee had to call off the meeting because two members were sick.
Why it works: The committee canceled the planned meeting.
-
Rain forced the school to call off the sports day.
Why it works: The school canceled the scheduled outdoor sports day.
Your turn
A manager says, 'We had to call off the presentation.' What did the team do?
Answer: They canceled the presentation entirely.
Show the answer
Answer: They canceled the presentation entirely.
Call off means cancel. It does not mean making a telephone call, and on its own, it does not mean rescheduling for another day.
Stop an Ongoing Activity or Threat
Call off also applies to operations that are already underway. When emergency workers or search teams realize that continuing an effort is unsafe or unnecessary, they call off the search. Additionally, call off functions as a command to stop an aggressive animal or person. If an owner calls a guard dog off, they instruct the dog to step back and stop attacking someone. It does not mean canceling the dog itself.
-
The police called off the search when daylight faded.
Why it works: The team stopped an ongoing rescue operation.
-
The farmer called his dogs off as soon as the hikers stopped walking.
Why it works: The farmer commanded his aggressive dogs to stop threatening the hikers.
This also comes up in Go off and Cut off.
Your turn
What does a person mean when shouting, 'Call your dog off!'?
Answer: Order your dog to stop threatening someone.
Show the answer
Answer: Order your dog to stop threatening someone.
In this context, calling a dog off is a command telling an animal to stop pursuing or threatening a person.
Distinguish Between Canceling and Postponing
A frequent mistake is treating call off and postpone as exact synonyms. When you postpone an event, you delay it with the clear intention to hold it at a later date. When you call off an event, you cancel it. Organizers might choose to plan a replacement event weeks later, but the phrase call off itself makes no promise of a future date. To compare cancellation with rescheduling an appointment, see /micro-listenings/7-2/ and review /grammar/future-plans/.
-
We postponed the interview until Friday morning.
Why it works: The interview was delayed to a specific later time.
-
The club called off the concert after the singer lost her voice.
Why it works: The concert was canceled without setting a new date.
Your turn
You want to move your study session from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM today. Which verb should you use?
Answer: Postpone
Show the answer
Answer: Postpone
Postpone means moving an event to a later time, while call off means canceling the event altogether.
Position Nouns and Pronouns Accurately
The verb call and the particle off can separate when you name an object. When you use a full noun phrase, you have two correct choices: you can say call off the class or call the class off. Both sound natural. However, when you replace the noun with an object pronoun such as it or them, the pronoun must go in the middle. You say call it off, never call off it.
-
They called the class off because the room was locked.
Why it works: The full noun phrase sits between called and off.
-
They called off the class because the room was locked.
Why it works: The full noun phrase follows called off.
-
The storm arrived quickly, so they called it off.
Why it works: The pronoun it must sit between called and off.
Your turn
Which sentence follows correct word order with a pronoun?
Answer: The manager decided to call it off.
Show the answer
Answer: The manager decided to call it off.
Pronoun objects such as it and them must sit directly between call and off.
Form Past Statements, Questions, and Negatives
The word off never changes its form. You only change the verb call: call, calls, called, and calling. In past statements, use called off. When you form past questions or negative statements with did or didn't, the auxiliary takes the past tense, so call returns to its base form. You can also use the passive form, was called off, when you want to state the cancellation without focusing on who made the decision.
-
They called it off early this morning.
Why it works: A past simple affirmative statement.
-
Did they call it off before noon?
Why it works: The base form call follows the auxiliary did in a question.
-
They didn't call it off despite the bad weather.
Why it works: The base form call follows the auxiliary didn't in a negative statement.
-
The afternoon flight was called off due to heavy snow.
Why it works: A passive construction reporting the cancellation without naming the airline staff.
Your turn
Choose the grammatically correct past question:
Answer: Did the instructor call off the workshop?
Show the answer
Answer: Did the instructor call off the workshop?
After the auxiliary did, use the base verb form call rather than the past form called.
Explain Cancellations in Everyday Conversation
In daily conversation and practical workplace updates, call off sounds natural, direct, and polite. In very formal printed announcements or legal contracts, writers often prefer cancel. In spoken English, speakers introduce the event by name first, explain the reason, and then replace the event with a pronoun when offering the next step. Consider this short dialogue between two instructors at a cooking academy: Marcus: 'Have you checked the sinks in kitchen three? There is no running water.' Elena: 'That means we cannot run the baking workshop. We need to call off the class before students arrive.' Marcus: 'I agree. If we call it off now, I can send everyone a refund email right away.'
-
We need to call off the class before students arrive.
Why it works: The full noun phrase establishes the event being canceled.
-
If we call it off now, I can send everyone a refund email right away.
Why it works: The pronoun it refers back to the previously mentioned class.
Your turn
Why do Elena and Marcus decide to call the baking workshop off?
Answer: The kitchen has no running water.
Show the answer
Answer: The kitchen has no running water.
The dialogue establishes that kitchen three has no water, which makes conducting the class impossible.
Catch Connected Speech and Final Consonants
When listening to native speakers, pay close attention to linked sounds and endings. The past form called ends with a single /d/ sound, not an extra syllable. In fast speech, this /d/ sound attaches smoothly to the vowel in off, sounding like call-doff. In the phrase call it off, the pronoun it connects both sides. In North American English, the /t/ in it often sounds like a quick tap between vowels, whereas in British English it may sound crisper or slightly held. Listeners should also separate off, ending in /f/, from of, which ends in /v/.
-
The director called off the rehearsal.
Why it works: The /d/ at the end of called links into the starting vowel of off.
-
They told us to call it off.
Why it works: The pronoun it links call to off with a quick consonant sound.
Your turn
When someone says 'called off', how many spoken syllables does the word 'called' contain?
Answer: One syllable ending in /d/
Show the answer
Answer: One syllable ending in /d/
Called is a single syllable ending in /d/. In natural speech, that /d/ links directly into the vowel of off.
Draft Accurate Cancellation Messages
Writing a practical cancellation update requires three key pieces of information: what is canceled, why it cannot happen, and what learners or colleagues should do next. When writing to a group, state the full noun phrase first so everyone understands the situation immediately. If you refer to the event again in the same message, use the pronoun pattern call it off to keep your sentences flowing smoothly and avoid repetitive phrasing. For more practice changing plans due to unexpected conditions, review /micro-listenings/1-2/ and /micro-listenings/5-2/.
-
Due to bad weather, we must call off tomorrow's field trip.
Why it works: States the clear reason and names the event explicitly.
-
Please do not travel to the site, as we have called it off.
Why it works: Gives practical advice while using the pronoun pattern.
Your turn
You are writing an update to coworkers about an outdoor team lunch. Which sentence is grammatically natural?
Answer: Because of heavy rain, we decided to call it off.
Show the answer
Answer: Because of heavy rain, we decided to call it off.
Pronouns like it must appear between call and off, and call it off accurately expresses cancellation.
Other meanings of "call off"
This lesson practises one meaning. You may also hear these.
Stop an activity that has already started
The rescue team called off the search at sunset.
Order an attacking animal or person to stop
The owner called her dog off immediately.
Common mistakes with "call off"
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
-
Not this:
The organisers decided to call off it.Say: The organisers decided to call it off.
Object pronouns must come between 'call' and 'off'.
-
Not this:
Did they called off the trip?Say: Did they call off the trip?
Use the base form 'call' after the auxiliary 'did'.
-
Not this:
The referee call off the match yesterday.Say: The referee called off the match yesterday.
Use 'called' for a past simple affirmative statement.
Use it naturally
How people really use “call off”
Neutral Fine almost anywhere, at work or with friends.
Words it often goes with
- call off the searchWe can call off the search because someone found the missing dog.
- call off the weddingThey decided to call off the wedding after they separated.
- call off the tripWe had to call off the trip because our car broke down.
- call off the meetingThe manager had to call off the meeting because she was sick.
What people also say
- “We called it off.” instead of “We called off it.” Put the pronoun between call and off.
Questions about "Call off"
What does call off mean?
Call off primarily means to cancel an event, meeting, or activity that was planned. It can also mean stopping an ongoing search or rescue effort, or telling an aggressive person or animal to stop attacking.
The school had to call off the concert.
The handler called his dog off before anyone was hurt.
Should I say call it off or call off it?
You should always say call it off. When the object of this phrasal verb is a pronoun such as it or them, it must sit between the verb call and the particle off. Saying call off it is incorrect in standard English.
The match is canceled because they called it off.
We had several interviews planned, but the manager called them off.
Does called off mean it will happen later?
No, called off simply means canceled. It does not promise or schedule a future date. If organizers want to state that an event will happen at a later date or time, they use the verb postpone instead.
They called off the trip completely.
They postponed the meeting until next Tuesday.
Can I call off something that has already started?
Yes, you can call off an activity that is already underway if continuing is impossible, unsafe, or unproductive. For example, emergency crews often call off a search when bad weather makes it dangerous to continue.
The boat captain called off the tour after thirty minutes due to high waves.
What does call the dog off mean?
Calling a dog off means giving a firm command for the dog to stop barking, chasing, or attacking someone. In this context, it does not mean canceling an event; it means ordering an aggressive animal to back away.
Please call your dog off while the postal worker delivers the package.
Can I use call off in a work email?
Yes, call off is completely acceptable in everyday workplace emails, project chats, and spoken updates. For formal public statements or contracts, writers often use cancel, but call off is professional and standard in team communication.
I am writing to let the team know that we must call off this morning's standup meeting.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose call off to announce that an event will not happen, to end an ongoing operation, or to order an animal or attacker to stop. Always position pronoun objects between call and off, and return the verb to call after did or didn't.
Stage 2 of 5
Listen
Hear it in real sentences, from short to long, and write what you hear.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The captain called off the boat tour after thirty minutes when the fog became dangerous.
- We wanted to hold the workshop outdoors, but heavy rain forced us to call it off.
Read the transcript
We had to call off the morning workshop.
Call off is followed directly by the noun phrase the morning workshop.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "cal-loff": the final l in call joins smoothly to off.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "cal-loff": the final l in call joins smoothly to off.
- The final t or d is barely said before the next consonant.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "cal-loff": the final l in call joins smoothly to off.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The captain called off the boat tour after thirty minutes when the fog became dangerous.
- We wanted to hold the workshop outdoors, but heavy rain forced us to call it off.
Read the transcript
Bad weather arrived, so the club called it off.
The pronoun it must sit between the verb called and the particle off.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "calle-dit": the final d in called joins to it.
- listen for "i-toff": the final t in it connects to off.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "calle-dit": the final d in called joins to it.
- listen for "i-toff": the final t in it connects to off.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- listen for "calle-dit": the final d in called joins to it.
- listen for "i-toff": the final t in it connects to off.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
- The captain called off the boat tour after thirty minutes when the fog became dangerous.
- We wanted to hold the workshop outdoors, but heavy rain forced us to call it off.
Read the transcript
The directors called off the project review after three team members fell ill, but they did not call off the client lunch.
Notice the past form called off in the first clause and the base form call off after did not in the second clause.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "calle-doff": the final d in called connects to off without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "calle-doff": the final d in called connects to off without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- listen for "calle-doff": the final d in called connects to off without a pause.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
0:00
- The captain called off the boat tour after thirty minutes when the fog became dangerous.
- We wanted to hold the workshop outdoors, but heavy rain forced us to call it off.
Read the transcript
The annual outdoor community festival was called off by city planners after strong coastal winds damaged several tents in the park. Local vendors were advised to pack their goods carefully, and ticket holders received an automatic refund notification within two hours of the announcement.
The passive structure was called off reports the cancellation clearly before naming the planners who made the decision.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Practice complete
You listened closely.
Your result is saved in this browser.
Keep your progress. Your practice is saved on this device only. Create a free account to keep it everywhere.
Create a free accountThat was today's free lesson. Tomorrow you get another one. Want more today? See membership.
Create a free SubLearn account to keep this progress across devices.
Save my progressStage 3 of 5
Speak
Say it with the speaker, then use it in your own answer.
Shadow
Say it along with the speaker
We had to call off the morning workshop.
Play the line slowly, then speak at the same time as the speaker. Copy the rhythm, not just the words.
Your turn
Say it your way
Speak for 30 to 60 seconds from memory. Imagine your family is searching the neighborhood for your missing cat. You find it asleep inside your house. Explain how you stopped the search and told everyone the good news.
Use: call off called it off
Think for ten seconds, then answer out loud for as long as the task above asks, without looking at the lesson. Nothing is sent unless you ask for feedback.
0:00
Hear how someone else might say it
Yesterday, our cat went missing, so my family started searching the neighborhood. My sister checked the next street, and my dad asked our neighbors for help. I stayed home to look upstairs. After twenty minutes, I found the cat asleep in a box under my bed. I knew we needed to call off the search. I called my dad and told him the good news. We called it off right away, and everyone came home. My sister laughed when she saw the cat. We were all happy it was safe.
Try once more and answer this: Where was the cat hiding?
Stage 4 of 5
Write
Write about your own day or week using it, then write a message.
Write
Put it in your own words
- I used “call off”.
- It is about my life, not the lesson’s example.
- I read it once aloud to check it sounds right.
Write your own response
Choose a situation and write 30–50 words in your own wording. This is separate from typing the exact words in a recording.
Check your own writing
Read one possible response
Use these checks to revise your message. Grammar and meaning are not automatically graded. Each task keeps its own draft in this browser tab.
You finished the free part of this lesson
- Understand
- Listen
- Speak
- Write
- CheckPart of membership
Worth another look
With a free account, the lessons you finish come back for review to help you remember them.Create a free account
Stage 5 of 5 · Part of membership
Check
New clips without hints.
Listening tests are included with membership. Try the free dictation first, then decide whether to continue.
Listening 1 of 2 Part of membership
Listening 2 of 2 Part of membership
Follow MicroEnglish
New lessons, short videos and quick quizzes every day. Pick the app you already use.
Questions & comments
Ask about this lesson, share an example, or help another learner.
Example
Memory tip
Goes with
Related forms
Not to be confused with
In this lesson
This word isn't in our dictionary. Check the spelling, or try another form of the word.
We couldn't load this word. Try again.
