carry on
B1Neutral to informal; very common in everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
To continue doing something, especially despite difficulties or interruptions.
To persist with an activity, behaviour, or course of action; to proceed; also, to behave in an excited, emotional, or inappropriate way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies continuation of an action already in progress. Can be used both transitively (carry on a conversation) and intransitively (just carry on). In British English, 'carry on' can also mean to have a romantic affair.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More frequent and idiomatic in British English. The 'romantic affair' meaning is almost exclusively BrE. The phrase 'carry-on' as a noun (meaning fuss or luggage) is strongly BrE.
Connotations
In BrE, can sound slightly informal or even blasé ('Oh, just carry on'). In AmE, may sound slightly more formal or deliberate.
Frequency
Very high frequency in BrE; high frequency in AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
carry on (intransitive)carry on [with] somethingcarry on doing somethingcarry on something (e.g., a business)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “carry on regardless”
- “carry on like a pork chop (Aus/NZ informal: to behave foolishly)”
- “carry-on (noun: a fuss or commotion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
We intend to carry on trading while the negotiations are underway.
Academic
The research team will carry on with the longitudinal study for another decade.
Everyday
Sorry for the interruption, please carry on with your story.
Technical
The system is designed to carry on operating in fail-safe mode.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Do carry on, I didn't mean to interrupt.
- They've been carrying on for years, everyone knows about it.
American English
- We'll carry on with the meeting after lunch.
- Despite the noise, she carried on reading.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- It was a bit of a carry-on at the pub last night.
- All this carry-on about the weather is tiresome.
American English
- (Rare as adjective) He made a big carry-on over a small mistake.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please carry on with your work.
- The children carried on playing in the garden.
- We decided to carry on with our plans despite the rain.
- She carried on talking as if nothing had happened.
- The company managed to carry on trading throughout the crisis.
- He's carrying on with his neighbour's wife, you know.
- The committee resolved to carry on the longstanding tradition of the annual debate.
- Her emotional carry-on was entirely inappropriate for a professional setting.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a soldier CARRYing a flag ONward during a march—he continues forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTINUATION IS CARRYING SOMETHING FORWARD (carrying a burden/task into the future).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как 'нести на' (literal).
- Не смешивать с 'carry out' (выполнять).
- В значении 'вести себя шумно' — аналог 'буянить', 'устраивать сцену'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'carry on' instead of 'carry out' for completing a task.
- Incorrect: *'We need to carry on the experiment.' (If you mean 'perform', use 'carry out').
- Incorrect preposition: *'Carry on to do something' (correct: 'carry on doing something').
Practice
Quiz
In British informal English, what can 'a bit of a carry-on' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a phrasal verb that is not usually separated. You don't 'carry it on', you 'carry on with it'.
'Carry on' often implies a deliberate continuation of a specific activity. 'Go on' is more general and can also mean 'happen' or 'proceed' in a narrative sense.
Yes, especially in the sense of 'continue' (e.g., 'to carry on business'). However, the noun 'carry-on' (meaning fuss) is informal.
Yes, but as a noun: 'carry-on luggage' (baggage you take into the cabin). The verb phrase here is different ('carry on' meaning 'bring onto').
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