In this mini episode, you will learn the strange (but common) idiom “call it quits.”
Episode 422 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the strange (but common) idiom “call it quits.” Send your questions about English and your comments and suggestions to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hi, everyone! This is Red, from Fujian, China. And you’re listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 422 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In this episode, I am going to teach you another interesting idiom. The idiom for this episode is “call it quits.” Call it quits.
That’s spelled c-a-l-l, i-t, q-u-i-t-s. Call it quits.
What do you think “call it quits” means? As with many idioms, the meaning is hard to predict. If you don’t already know the meaning, I’m not sure if you can figure it out just by looking at the parts. “Call it quits.”
Even though that might sound a little bit strange, it is a common idiom. And here is what “call it quits” means: “Call it quits” means to end or to decide to end something. To end or decide to stop doing something. To decide that something has come to an end. To decide to stop doing something.
We usually use “call it quits” when we are talking about some kind of activity or project. We can even use “call it quits” to talk about ending a relationship.
Here are some examples of sentences that use the idiom “call it quit”:
“It has been a long, hard day, and now the construction workers are calling it quits.” In other words, the construction workers have said they are stopping for the day.
Here’s another one: “They have been married for 20 years, but now they are calling it quits.” In other words, they are now saying or deciding that their marriage is over. They are ending it. They are calling it quits.
Here’s another one. “She has been running that restaurant for a long time, but she just can’t earn enough money. And now she’s calling it quits.” In other words, she is going to close her business. Her restaurant will no longer be there.
In each of these examples, “call it quits” means to end or to decide to end something, some kind of activity or relationship or project.
You might be wondering whether you can use another word in there besides it. Can you use another word in there, or do you always have to say, “Call it quits”? Can you call something quits? Can you call the job quits? Can you call the day quits? Can you call the marriage quits? Well, no. Those examples do not work. This idiom only works when you say it just like that: “call it quits.” Call it quits.
And that is “call it quits,” a strange and interesting and common idiom that I think you should know.
Outro
This is the end of episode 422 of Everybody ESL. Remember: If you have any questions about English, or if you have comments for me, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Red recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with a new episode. And until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye!