# "Called it quits" origin

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/called-it-quits-origin/586455>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/called-it-quits-origin/586455 "2011-06-22T17:35:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CheeseDonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@CheeseDonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheeseDonkey)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/called-it-quits-origin/586455/1 "2011-06-22T17:35:36Z")

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What is the origin of the phrase “called it quits”?

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/called-it-quits-origin/586455/2 "2011-06-22T19:49:55Z")

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According to the OED, it’s from 1473:

> [@OED](#):
>
> a. Clear, free of debt; discharged of a liability. Obs.
> 
> 1478 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens’ Accts. (1890) 7 Rest to the Wardenes xviijs. ixd. paid them, so quits herof.  
> 1590 Acct.-bk. W. Wray in Antiquary (1896) 32 374 Su[mma] is iiij li. iiij s. ij d.; payd and quits.

The definition of quits had variations over the centuries; the OED gives the first use of the phrase as 1851. This clearly derives back to the 1478 definition.

> [@OED](#):
>
> b. to call (it) quits = to cry quits at sense A. 2a; (also) to abandon a quarrel, venture, etc., esp. in order to cut one’s losses.
> 
> 1851 Democratic State Reg. (Watertown, Wisconsin) 23 June 2/3 We have discontinued our paper to the following individuals, who have neglected to pay up arrearages‥. Hand up the balance due and we will call it quits.  
> 1898 J. London Let. 30 Nov. (1966) 5 Tomorrow I would cut my throat and call quits with the whole cursed business.

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**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/called-it-quits-origin/586455/3 "2011-06-23T01:08:44Z")

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We couldn`t call it love cause it really wasn`t love anymore  
Yet we couldn`t call it hate cause there`s no way to hate  
Someone you`ve loved so much before We couldn`t call it livin` cause it wasn`t still alive  
We couldn`t call it dead cause it refused to die  
We ran out of anything to call it so we called it quits

Bill Anderson, 1971