What Does “call off the dogs” mean?
Definition:
If you call off the dogs, you stop criticizing or attacking someone.
Origin
The dogs referred to in this phrase are hunting dogs. These dogs are often loosed as a form of intimidation. When they finish serving their purpose they are called off and returned to their kennel.
By analogy, the idiom refers to a situation where one is asked to stop behaving aggressively toward someone else.
Example(s)
Please, call off the dogs. I apologize for what I have done.
It is time to call off the dogs; he’s had enough!
The only way to call off the dogs is to apologize and admit you were wrong.
This idiom is in the animals category.
