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definitions

carrying-on

[ kar-ee-ing-on, -awn ]
/ ˈkær i ɪŋˈɒn, -ˈɔn /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR carrying-on ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural car·ry·ings-on. Informal.

irresponsible, irritating, self-indulgent, or overwrought behavior: The baby-sitter was exhausted from the child's noisy carrying-on.
improper or immoral behavior.

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RELATED WORDS

performance, irrationality, silliness, craziness, lunacy, bunk, folly, insanity, stupidity, rubbish, indiscretion, absurdity, irresponsibility, tantrum, fuss, fit, upset, commotion, to-do, confrontation

Nearby words

carrycot, carryforward, carrying capacity, carrying charge, carrying place, carrying-on, carryover, carrère, carrère, john merven, carse, carshare

Origin of carrying-on

First recorded in 1855–60
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for carrying-on

  • When she got going, laughing and carrying-on, what wouldn't she say, right out before anybody!

    The Brimming Cup|Dorothy Canfield Fisher

  • What's all this we hear about your carrying-on this morning?

    Air Service Boys Flying for Victory|Charles Amory Beach

  • They always seem to be happy, singing and “carrying-on” with the utmost abandon.

    The Spell of Flanders|Edward Neville Vose

  • There was a newly-married couple in our car, and of course lots of us were more or less interested in their carrying-on.

    Atchoo!|George Niblo

British Dictionary definitions for carrying-on

carrying-on

noun plural carryings-on informal

unconventional or questionable behaviour
excited or flirtatious behaviour, esp when regarded as foolish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012