call off

Meaning

To cancel something that was planned.

Examples

1. The organisers called off the concert because of the storm. US UK
2. They called the match off at the last minute. US UK
3. We had to call off our trip. US UK

How to use it

Use call off for events and plans. It can be separated: call off the meeting or call the meeting off. Compare it with put off, which means to delay.

Common mistake

Not: They called off the meeting until next week.
Say: They put off the meeting until next week. (Call off means cancel. Put off means delay.)