Call it a night

Definitions

• to end an activity or event
  to decide to stop doing something, especially an activity at night, and go to bed or go home

• to give up on something
  to acknowledge that one's efforts or attempts have been unsuccessful and to decide to stop trying

Examples of Call it a night

• After the long and thrilling party, John suggested that they should call it a night.

  In this context, "call it a night" means that John suggested that they should leave the party and go to sleep because it was late and they had had enough fun. The phrase "call it a night" implies that it's time to end the party or whatever activity is happening and go to sleep. This idiom is used when someone wants to suggest that it's time for others to leave or go to bed.

• The tired and sweaty athlete finally called it a night after a long and exhausting race.

  In this context, "call it a night" means that the athlete went to bed or retired for the night because they were tired and exhausted after the race. This idiom is used when someone wants to suggest that they are too tired or exhausted to carry on with an activity and need to rest.

• The busy and stressed-out employee decided to call it a night after working late for days.

  In this context, "call it a night" means that the employee left work and went to sleep because they were exhausted and needed to rest after working for several days without taking a break. This idiom is used when someone wants to suggest that they need to take a break or rest because they are tired or overwhelmed with work.

• After watching a scary movie, the frightened and nervous friend suggested that they should call it a night.

  In this context, "call it a night" means that the friend suggested that they should leave the place and go to sleep because they were frightened and scared after watching a scary movie. This idiom is used when someone wants to suggest that they are too frightened or scared to carry on with an activity or stay in a place that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

• After a long and vibrant party, everyone gradually started to feel tired and sluggish. John suggested that they call it a night, and everyone agreed.

  To say "call it a night" in this context means to end the party or social gathering and go to bed, indicating that it is late and everyone is tired. The phrase "call it a night" is a figurative expression, as it implies that the night is being "called" to a close, much like a sports game is "called" due to the end of playing time.

• After working overtime for three consecutive days, the tired employee decided to call it a night and head home at 9 pm.

  In this example, "call it a night" is used as a phrasal verb to indicate that the employee is ending their workday and going to bed for the night. It can also imply that the employee is exhausted and ready for sleep. This idiom is often used in informal situations to convey tiredness or the end of a particular activity.

• After the party, the group of friends decided to call it a night and headed home around 2 am.

  In this example, "call it a night" is used to indicate that the friends have decided to end their night's activities and return home. It could be because they are tired, or they've reached their limit of partying for the night.

• The store tends to close early during the holidays, so many people like to finish their shopping and call it a night by 6 pm.

  In this example, "call it a night" is used to express that people are ending their shopping for the day and going home because the store is about to close. It can be used in many contexts to indicate the end of an activity due to circumstances such as closing time or tiredness.

Conclusion

The idiom "call it a night" is commonly used to indicate the intention to end an activity or event, particularly during the nighttime. It can also be used to convey the idea of giving up on something after acknowledging that efforts have been unsuccessful. This phrase is often used in informal conversations and is a way to express the decision to stop and move on to something else.

Origin of "Call it a night"

The origin of the idiom "call it a night" is not definitively known, but it is believed to have originated in the early 20th century. The phrase likely comes from the practice of announcing the end of a performance or event, especially in the entertainment industry. Over time, it has become a common expression used in everyday language to indicate the decision to stop an activity or give up on something. The use of "call it a night" has evolved to encompass various situations where an activity is being concluded, making it a versatile and widely understood idiom in the English language. Examples of its usage can be found in literature, film, and everyday conversations.