# carry water for

idiom

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

## Meaning

To perform menial tasks for; to serve; to assist; to be forced by politics or pragmatism to endorse or promote a belief, individual, or organization that in reality one does not fully support.

## Examples

- He refuses to carry water for his boss anymore.
- She felt uncomfortable having to carry water for a political candidate she did not actually support.
- The journalist was criticized for carrying water for the corporation instead of reporting the truth about their environmental impact.

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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.