What Does “Call sb off” Mean?
“Call sb off” means to order someone to stop doing something, especially to stop an action or event that is already in progress.
Introduction
The phrasal verb “call sb off” is commonly used in English to describe stopping a person or group from continuing an activity. When you “call someone off,” you tell them to stop what they are doing, often because the situation has changed or it is no longer necessary to continue. This phrase is useful in many everyday situations, such as stopping a search, ending an argument, or halting a task. Understanding the call sb off meaning will help you communicate clearly when you want to cancel or stop an action involving others.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal Verb: call somebody off
- Type: Transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short Meaning: To order someone to stop doing something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Call sb off” is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object (sb) between “call” and “off” or after the whole phrase.
- call somebody off
- call off somebody
Both forms are correct, but the first form is more common in spoken English.
Example patterns:
- Subject + call + object + off
- Subject + call off + object
How to Use “Call sb off”?
You use “call sb off” when you want to tell someone to stop an activity. It is often used in situations like stopping a group, ending a task, or canceling a planned action. Usually, it involves a person or group (sb) who is doing something, and another person tells them to stop.
For example, a manager might call off workers from a dangerous task, or a police officer might call off a search when the person is found.
Examples
- The coach called the players off the field because of the storm.
- They called off the search after finding the lost dog.
- The teacher called the students off the project when the deadline changed.
- Police called off the chase when the suspect escaped into a crowded area.
- She called off her friends from arguing before it got worse.
Here are some examples of call sb off in a sentence to help you understand better.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: They called off to the workers.
- Correct: They called the workers off.
- Incorrect: I call off him from the meeting.
- Correct: I called him off from the meeting.
Remember, you must include the object (someone) directly after “call” or at the end of the phrase. Saying “call off to” is incorrect.
Differences / Synonyms
“Call sb off” is similar to “stop sb,” “order sb to stop,” or “cancel.” However, “call sb off” specifically implies giving an official or clear order to stop an action that is already happening.
Compare with:
- Call off Means to cancel an event. Example: They called off the meeting.
- Tell sb to stop: More general and less formal. Example: She told him to stop.
- Stop sb: Direct action but less formal than “call sb off.” Example: The guard stopped the visitors.
Common Collocations
- call the dogs off
- call the search party off
- call the workers off
- call the attack off
- call the dogs off the chase
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of call sb off:
Real-life Dialogue
Mark: The dogs are chasing the cat again!
Lisa: Call them off before they hurt it.
Mark: Okay, I’m calling the dogs off now.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of “call sb off”:
- The manager ______ the employees ______ the project due to safety concerns.
- The police ______ the search ______ after they found the missing child.
- She ______ her friends ______ from fighting during the meeting.
FAQs
- Q: Can “call sb off” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “They called the team off yesterday.” - Q: Is “call sb off” formal or informal?
A: It is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal situations. - Q: Can I say “call off sb” instead of “call sb off”?
A: Yes, but “call sb off” is more common. - Q: Does “call sb off” only apply to people?
A: Usually, yes, but it can also refer to animals like dogs. - Q: What is the difference between “call off” and “call sb off”?
A: “Call off” means to cancel an event, while “call sb off” means to order someone to stop an action.