[call it a night]{v. phr.} To declare that an evening party or other activity conducted late in the day is finished. •/I am so tired that I am going to call it a night and go to bed./

[call it quits]{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To decide to stop what you are doing; quit. •/When Tom had painted half the garage, he called it quits./ 2. To agree that each side in a fight is satisfied; stop fighting because a wrong has been paid back; say things are even. •/Pete called Tom a bad name, and they fought till Tom gave Pete a bloody nose; then they called it quits./ 3. To cultivate a habit no longer. •/"Yes, I called it quits with cigarettes three years ago."/

[call names]{v. phr.} To use ugly or unkind words when speaking to someone or when talking about someone. — Usually used by or to children. •/Bill got so mad he started calling Frank names./

[call off]{v.} To stop (something planned); quit; cancel. •/When the ice became soft and sloppy, we had to call off the ice-skating party./ •/The baseball game was called off because of rain./

[call on] or [call upon] {v.} 1. To make a call upon; visit. •/Mr. Brown called on an old friend while he was in the city./ 2. To ask for help. •/He called on a friend to give him money for the busfare to his home./

[call one’s bluff]{v. phr.}, {informal} To ask someone to prove what he says he can or will do. (Originally from the card game of poker.) •/Tom said he could jump twenty feet and so Dick called his bluff and said "Let’s see you do it!"/

[call one’s shot]{v. phr.} 1. To tell before firing where a bullet will hit. •/An expert rifleman can call his shot regularly./ •/The wind was strong and John couldn’t call his shots./ 2. or [call the turn] To tell in advance the result of something before you do it. •/Mary won three games in a row, just as she said she would. She called her turns well./ •/Nothing ever happens as Tom says it will. He is very poor at calling his turns./

[call on the carpet]{v. phr.}, {informal} To call (a person) before an authority (as a boss or teacher) for a scolding or reprimand. •/The worker was called on the carpet by the boss for sleeping on the job./ •/The principal called Tom on the carpet and warned him to stop coming to school late./

[call the roll]{v. phr.} To read out the names on a certain list, usually in alphabetical order. •/The sergeant called the roll of the newly enlisted volunteers in the army./

[call the shots]{v. phr.}, {informal} To give orders; be in charge; direct; control. •/Bob is a first-rate leader who knows how to call the shots./ •/The quarterback called the shots well, and the team gained twenty yards in five plays./ Syn.: CALL THE TUNE.

[call the tune]{v. phr.}, {informal} To be in control; give orders or directions; command. •/Bill was president of the club but Jim was secretary and called the tune./ •/The people supported the mayor, so he could call the tune in city matters./ Syn.: CALL THE SHOTS.

[call the turn] See: CALL ONE’S SHOT(2).

[call to account]{v. phr.} 1. To ask (someone) to explain why he did something wrong (as breaking a rule). •/The principal called Jim to account after Jim left school early without permission./ 2. To scold (as for wrong conduct); reprimand. •/The father called his son to account for disobeying him./

[call to arms]{v. phr.} To summon into the army. •/During World War II millions of Americans were called to arms to fight for their country./

[call to mind]{v. phr.} To remember; cause to remember. •/Your story calls to mind a similar event that happened to us a few years back./

[call to order]{v. phr.} 1. To open (a meeting) formally. •/The chairman called the committee to order./ •/The president pounded with his gavel to call the convention to order./ 2. To warn not to break the rules of a meeting. •/The judge called the people in the court room to order when they talked too loud./

[call out]{v. phr.} 1. To shout; speak loudly. •/My name was called out several times, but I was unable to hear it./ 2. To summon someone. •/If the rioting continues, the governor will have to call out the National Guard./

[call up]{v.} 1. To make someone think of; bring to mind; remind. •/The picture of the Capitol called up memories of our class trip./ 2. To tell to come (as before a court). •/The district attorney called up three witnesses./ 3. To bring together for a purpose; bring into action. •/Jim called up all his strength, pushed past the players blocking him, and ran for a touchdown./ •/The army called up its reserves when war seemed near./ 4. To call on the telephone. •/She called up a friend just for a chat./

[call upon] See: CALL ON.

[calm down]{v. phr.} To become quiet; relax. •/"Calm down, Mr. Smith," the doctor said with a reassuring smile. "You are going to live a long time."/

[camel] See: STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK at LAST STRAW.

[camp] See: BREAK CAMP.

[campaign] See: WHISPERING CAMPAIGN.

[camp follower]{n.} 1. A man or woman who goes with an army, not to fight but to sell something. •/Nowadays camp followers are not allowed as they were long ago./ 2. A person who goes with a famous or powerful person or group in hope of profit. •/A man who runs for president has many camp followers./

[camp out]{v.} To live, cook, and sleep out of doors (as in a tent). •/We camped out near the river for a week./

[can] See: AS BEST ONE CAN, CATCH AS CATCH CAN.

[canary] See: LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT ATE THE CANARY or LOOK LIKE THE CAT THAT SWALLOWED THE CANARY.

[cancel out]{v.} To destroy the effect of; balance or make useless. •/The boy got an "A" in history to cancel out the "C" he got in arithmetic./ •/Our track team won the mile relay to cancel out the other team’s advantage in winning the half-mile relay./ •/Tom’s hot temper cancels out his skill as a player./

[cancer stick]{n.}, {slang} A cigarette. •/Throw away that cancer stick! Smoking is bad for you!/

[candle] BURN THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, GAME IS NOT WORTH THE CANDLE, HOLD A CANDLE.

[canned heat]{n.} Chemicals in a can which burn with a hot, smokeless flame. •/Some people use canned heat to keep food warm./ •/The mountain climbers used canned heat for cooking./

[canned laughter]{n.}, {informal} The sounds of laughter heard on certain television programs that were obviously not recorded in front of a live audience and are played for the benefit of the audience from a stereo track to underscore the funny points. •/"How can there be an audience in this show when it is taking place in the jungle? — Why, it’s canned laughter you’re hearing."/

[canned music]{n.} Recorded music, as opposed to music played live. •/"Let us go to a real concert, honey," Mike said. "I am tired of all this canned music we’ve been listening to."/

[canoe] See: PADDLE ONE’S OWN CANOE.

[can of worms]{n.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. A complex problem, or complicated situation. •/Let’s not get into big city politics — that’s a different can of worms./ 2. A very restless, jittery person. •/Joe can’t sit still for a minute — he is a can of worms./