# carry over

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/carry-over
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- 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.

## 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. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.