carry a torch
carry the torch
To show great and unchanging loyalty to a cause or a person.
Although the others gave up fighting for their rights, John continued to carry the torch.
To be in love, usually without success or return.
He is carrying a torch for Anna, even though she is in love with someone else.
carry a tune
To sing the right notes without catching any false ones.
Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can't carry a tune and his singing is a pain to listen to.
carry away
get carried away with
be carried away by
be carried away with
To cause very strong feeling; excite or delight to the loss of cool judgment.
The music carried her away.
He let his anger carry him away.
Often used in the passive.
She was carried away by the man's charm.
He was carried away by the sight of the flag.
Paula and Leanne were carried away by the sad movie that they saw together.
James got carried away with anger when his roommate crashed his new car into a telephone pole.
carry coals to Newcastle
To do something unnecessary; bring or furnish something of which there is plenty.
Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines, and coal is sent out from there to other places.
Newcastle is an English city near many coal mines, and coal is sent out from there to other places.
The man who waters his grass after a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle.
Joe was carrying coals to Newcastle when he told the doctor how to cure a cold.
carry off the palm
bear off the palm
To gain the victory; win.
(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a game as a sign of victory.)
(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a game as a sign of victory.)
John carried off the palm in the tennis championship match.
Our army bore off the palm in the battle.
carry off
To cause death of; kill.
Years ago smallpox carried off hundreds of Indians of the Sioux tribe.
To succeed in winning.
Bob carried off honors in science.
Jim carried off two gold medals in the track meet.
To succeed somewhat unexpectedly in.
The spy planned to deceive the enemy soldiers and carried it off very well.
In the class play, Lloyd carried off his part surprisingly well.
carry on
To work at; be busy with; manage.
Bill and his father carried on a hardware business.
Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith carried on a long correspondence with each other.
The business associates decided to carry on their discussion in the hotel bar instead of the conference room.
To keep doing as before; continue.
After his father died, Bill carried on with the business.
The colonel told the soldiers to carry on while he was gone.
Though tired and hungry, the Scouts carried on until they reached camp.
Even in the face of disaster, the inhabitants carried on as though nothing had happened.
To behave in a noisy, foolish, and troublesome manner.
The boys carried on in the swimming pool until the lifeguard ordered them out.
To make too great a show of feeling, such as anger, grief, and pain.
John carried on for ten minutes after he hit his thumb with the hammer.
I can’t believe that John carried on so much just because his dog died. He looked depressed and cried for weeks after it happened.
To act in an immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully.
The townspeople said that he was carrying on with a neighbor girl.
carry one's cross
bear one's cross
To live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have trouble.
Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys play basketball.
We didn't know the cheerful woman was bearing her cross, a son in prison.