What does “To call off the dogs.” mean?

"To call off the dogs" means to stop pursuing or attacking someone or something.

What context can I use the in?

Example

The police decided to call off the dogs after realizing they were chasing the wrong suspect.

Example

The company's competitors were relentless in their pursuit, but eventually, they had to call off the dogs and accept defeat.

Example

After a long and exhausting search, the search and rescue team had to call off the dogs due to worsening weather conditions

Is “To call off the dogs.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?

“To call off the dogs.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.

How would I use “To call off the dogs.” effectively in context?

You can use "To call off the dogs" to describe the act of stopping or ceasing pursuit or attack. It is often used metaphorically to refer to situations where someone or something is relentlessly pursuing or attacking another person or group, and then the pursuit or attack is suddenly halted. For example, if a team of investigators realizes they are chasing the wrong suspect, they might "call off the dogs" and redirect their efforts elsewhere.

1Law Enforcement
The police decided to call off the dogs after realizing they were chasing the wrong suspect.
2Competition
The company's competitors were relentless in their pursuit, but eventually, they had to call off the dogs and accept defeat.
3Search and Rescue
After a long and exhausting search, the search and rescue team had to call off the dogs due to worsening weather conditions.

Similar phrases to “To call off the dogs.”:

Cease fire

To stop shooting or attacking

Example

The two sides agreed to a cease-fire and put an end to the conflict.

Back off

To withdraw or retreat from a situation

Example

The aggressive driver finally backed off after seeing the police car.

Let sleeping dogs lie

To avoid interfering in a situation that could cause trouble or conflict

Example

He decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the past argument.

Call it quits

To decide to stop doing something or end a relationship

Example

After years of struggling, they finally decided to call it quits and get a divorce.

Good things to know:

Where does the phrase “To call off the dogs.” come from?

The origin of the phrase "To call off the dogs" is unknown.

Is “To call off the dogs.” common in everyday conversation?

Yes, "To call off the dogs" is a commonly used proverb in everyday conversation. It is often used figuratively to describe the act of stopping pursuit or attack.

What tone does “To call off the dogs.” have?

"To call off the dogs" conveys a tone of relief or cessation. It implies that the pursuit or attack has been intense or relentless, and there is a sense of respite or resolution when it is called off.

Can “To call off the dogs.” be used in informal and formal settings?

The phrase "To call off the dogs" is more commonly used in informal settings. It is often used in casual conversations or storytelling to describe situations where pursuit or attack is abruptly halted.

Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?

It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'The police decided to call off the dogs and redirect their efforts.' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'Time to "call off the dogs"!' to imply the need to stop pursuing or attacking.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

stop the pursuit
halt the attack
cease the chase
end the aggression
give up the hunt

Antonyms

continue the pursuit
keep attacking
persist in the chase
maintain the aggression
never give up