ENGLISH
REFERENCE

carry over

idiom
Meaning

To transfer (something) to a later point in time.

Origin

first recorded 17th c. disputed origin

Attested since the 17th century; listed for instance in Elisha Coles' 1676 dictionary as a translation of transfer, thereby possibly a calque of Latin transfero; compare Dutch overdragen, German übertragen.

Examples
SIMPLE

You can carry over your vacation days to next year.

CONTEXTUAL

If you do not finish the project today, you must carry over the remaining work to tomorrow morning.

COMPLEX

The committee decided to carry over the unresolved budget discussions to the next session, hoping for a more favorable outcome.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    can't carry a tune in a bucket

    Sings very badly.

  2. 02

    carried away

    Made excessively emotional or excited, so that one goes too far.

  3. 03

    carry a torch

    To love or to be romantically infatuated with, especially when such feelings are not reciprocated.

  4. 04

    carry away

    To be so excited that one is no longer in control of one's actions or behavior.

  5. 05

    carry coals to Newcastle

    To do something that is unneeded or redundant.

  6. 06

    carry forward

    To transfer to a new page, column, ledger, or similar entity.

  7. 07

    carry off

    To act convincingly; to succeed at giving the impression of (e.g.) knowledge, confidence, or familiarity.

  8. 08

    carry on

    To continue or proceed as before.

Last updated April 17, 2026