carry-on
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To joke a person to excess, to CARRY ON a "spree" too far; "how we CARRIED ON, to be sure!" i.e., what fun we had. Nautical term—from carrying on sail.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “carry-on” mean?
To joke a person to excess, to CARRY ON a "spree" too far; "how we CARRIED ON, to be sure!" i.e., what fun we had. Nautical term—from carrying on sail.
Is “carry-on” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.