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Meaning of call off the dogs | Babel Free

Verb CEFR C2

Definitions

To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
idiomatic
During a one-sided sports contest, to remove the first-string unit of a team from the game after dominating the opponent.
idiomatic

Examples

“Doing the opponents an obvious favor, the football coach decided to call off the dogs early after his team was up 56-0.”

CEFR level

C2

Mastery
This word is part of the CEFR C2 vocabulary — mastery level.

See also

call on call on the carpet call out call out of one's name call out sick call outta one's name