carry on
phrasal verb·3 senses·particle on
Meanings
Continue doing something
Why “on”? Sliding forward along the surface. Motion that keeps going on and on.
“Carry on with your work.”
“Carry on with the story after the break.”
“Just carry on without me.”
Behave in a silly, loud or annoying way
“The kids were carrying on at the back.”
“The kids carried on during dinner.”
Have a romantic affair, often secretly
“She was carrying on with her boss.”
“He was carrying on with a neighbour.”
Don't confuse with
Carry on means continue doing something. Carry off means successfully do something difficult.
Carry on means continue doing something. Carry over means continue from one period or place into the next.
Test yourself
“Carry on with your work.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
carry off
A contrast learners often mix up
Successfully do something difficult
carry over
A contrast learners often mix up
Continue from one period or place into the next
bring on
Same on pattern: continuation
Cause something, especially an illness or feeling, to start; Help someone or something develop or improve
call on
Same on pattern: continuation
Ask someone to do something formally
catch on
Same on pattern: continuation
Become popular or fashionable; Begin to understand something
come on
Same on pattern: continuation
Used to encourage, hurry or challenge someone; Begin to develop, especially an illness or weather; Start working or be turned on; Make progress or improve; Try to start a romantic or sexual relationship with someone; Be broadcast on television or radio
crack on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue working hard, often after a break
drag on
Same on pattern: continuation
Continue for too long in a tedious way
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