call off the deal

Meaning

This phrasal verb expression means to cancel an agreement, transaction, or business negotiation that was previously planned or in progress. It is used when one or both parties decide not to move forward with a partnership or sale.

Examples

• The board decided to call off the deal after the financial audit revealed hidden debts.

  The board decided to call off the deal after the financial audit revealed hidden debts.

• If they try to change the terms of the contract now, we will have to call off the deal.

  If they try to change the terms of the contract now, we will have to call off the deal.

• They had to call off the deal at the last minute due to regulatory issues.

  They had to call off the deal at the last minute due to regulatory issues.

• It's not too late to call off the deal if you feel uncomfortable with the partnership.

  It's not too late to call off the deal if you feel uncomfortable with the partnership.

• The sudden market crash forced both companies to call off the merger deal.

  The sudden market crash forced both companies to call off the merger deal.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ They decided to cancel off the deal.

  ✓ They decided to call off the deal.

  'Cancel' is not a phrasal verb and does not take the preposition 'off'. You can 'call off' a deal or 'cancel' a deal, but not 'cancel off'.

• ✗ We had to call the deal out because of budget cuts.

  ✓ We had to call the deal off because of budget cuts.

  The correct phrasal verb for canceling something is 'call off'. 'Call out' means to challenge someone or summon emergency services.

Related Expressions

Practice

• When the client failed to pay the deposit, we had no choice but to ___.

  💡 cancel the transaction

  Show answer

  call off the deal

• They might ___ if we don't agree to their new delivery timeline.

  💡 cancel the business agreement

  Show answer

  call off the deal