called it a day

Definitions

decide to stop working or end an activity
To announce that one is stopping what they are doing, often for the rest of the day

Examples of called it a day

After working for 12 hours straight, John finally called it a day and headed home to get some much-needed rest.

This example shows the usage of "called it a day" in a sentence where the speaker decides to end their work for the day due to exhaustion or completion of their work.
When the clock struck 6 pm, Mrs. Johnson signaled to her staff that it was time to call it a day and leave for the evening.

In this example, the speaker is indicating that it's the end of their workday and it's time for everyone else to leave their jobs.
After a long and successful racing season, the jockey decided to call it a day and retire from horse racing.

This example shows the usage of "called it a day" in the context of retiring from a specific activity or profession due to completion or personal reasons.
Despite losing the game, the team captain refused to call it a day and instead encouraged his players to keep fighting until the very end.

In this example, the speaker is using "called it a day" to indicate that there is still hope for the team, and they should not give up even after facing defeat.
After working on the project for over 12 hours straight, John finally decided to call it a day.

This idiom refers to someone deciding to stop working or doing an activity for the day, usually because they are tired or it is getting late. In this case, John had been working on the project for more than 12 hours, likely past normal working hours, and chose to end his work for the day, as it had been a long and tiring day.
As the sun began to set, the construction workers on the site called it a day.

The idiom can also refer to people ending their workday due to the time of day. In this case, the sun had started to set, which is usually around the end of a typical working day, and the construction workers chose to finish their work and leave for the day.
The athlete pushed himself to the limit, but finally had to call it a day due to exhaustion.

This example shows the idiom being used to describe someone who has tried extremely hard at an activity but has to stop due to lack of energy or exhaustion. In this case, the athlete pushed himself to his limits during the activity, but eventually had to stop because he was too exhausted to continue.
The students had studied for hours, but ultimately decided to call it a day when they realized they had already absorbed all the information they could for the night.

This example expands on the idea that someone might decide to stop working due to their level of understanding. In this case, the students had been studying for a long time, but they realized they had already absorbed as much information as they could for the night, so they decided to stop studying and call it a day.

Conclusion

"Called it a day" is a phrase used to indicate the decision to stop working or end an activity for the day. It is often used in a casual or informal context to announce the end of work or a particular task. The intention behind using this phrase is to communicate the decision to cease further efforts for the day and to take a break or rest.

This idiom is commonly used in work settings, such as offices and job sites, as well as in personal activities and hobbies. It can also be used to convey the decision to end a social gathering or event for the day. Overall, "called it a day" is a simple and clear way to express the choice to stop engaging in a particular activity and to take a break.

Origin of "called it a day"

The origin of the idiom "called it a day" can be traced back to the early 20th century. The phrase likely originated in the context of labor or work, where individuals would announce the end of their workday by "calling it a day." This expression may have been used to signify the completion of a day's worth of work and the decision to stop working for the remainder of the day. Over time, the idiom has become widely used in various contexts to indicate the conclusion of an activity or task for the day.

The idiom "called it a day" has become a common and widely understood expression in the English language, conveying the simple and straightforward message of deciding to stop working or end an activity for the day. Its origin in the context of work and labor reflects the practical and straightforward nature of the phrase.