carry over
To transfer (something) to a later point in time.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“You can carry over your vacation days to next year.”
“If you do not finish the project today, you must carry over the remaining work to tomorrow morning.”
“The committee decided to carry over the unresolved budget discussions to the next session, hoping for a more favorable outcome.”
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.
- 01
can't carry a tune in a bucket
Sings very badly.
- 02
carried away
Made excessively emotional or excited, so that one goes too far.
- 03
carry a torch
To love or to be romantically infatuated with, especially when such feelings are not reciprocated.
- 04
carry away
To be so excited that one is no longer in control of one's actions or behavior.
- 05
carry coals to Newcastle
To do something that is unneeded or redundant.
- 06
carry forward
To transfer to a new page, column, ledger, or similar entity.
- 07
carry off
To act convincingly; to succeed at giving the impression of (e.g.) knowledge, confidence, or familiarity.
- 08
carry on
To continue or proceed as before.
Last updated August 10, 2026