| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| call it quits |
stop doing something, quit what you are doing
|
The dust is bothering all of us. I think we should call it quits.
|
| call it square |
we do not owe each other, it is a wash, we are even
|
I bought the pizza; you bought the beer. Let's call it square.
|
| call off |
cancel, postpone
|
They called off the concert because the lead singer is sick.
|
| call off the dogs |
tell your friends to stop harassing me
|
Okay, I'll pay what I owe you. But call off the dogs!
|
| call on |
ask, request
|
I may call on you to speak at the meeting. Will you speak to us?
|
| call tabs |
collect money from bar customers
|
If customers are drunk, you call their tabs and ask them to leave.
|
| call the shots |
make the decisions, decide what happens
|
Mr. Binks may be the president, but Ms. Barker calls the shots.
|
| call up |
phone, dingle you, give me a ring,
|
Call her up and ask her for a date. Go ahead, phone her.
|
| calm before the storm |
(See the calm before the storm)
|
|
| calm down |
not be so upset, settle down
|
Please calm down, Mr. Tse. Your daughter is safe.
|