1. Home
2. Idioms
3. carry away

carry away

---

---

carry someone away

[for someone or something] to cause a person to lose control. The excitement of the parade carried us all away. The fervor of the speech carried away the whole crowd.

See also: away, carry

carry someone or something away

to take or steal someone or something. Someone carried our lawn furniture away while we were on vacation. The kidnappers carried away the child when no one was looking.

See also: away, carry

carry away

Move or excite greatly. This expression is usually used in the passive, be carried away, as in The eulogy was so touching we were carried away, or Take it easy; don't get carried away and overdo. [Late 1500s]

See also: away, carry

carry away

v.

1. To pick something up and move away with it: The garbage collectors carried away the trash. I forgot to tie the canoe to the dock, and the river carried it away.

2. To steal something: The looters carried away everything in the store. The thieves carried the diamonds away.

3. To be moved to excess or be greatly excited. Used chiefly in the passive: The lovers were carried away by desire. Don't get carried away with the frosting; we need to save some for the other cake.

See also: away, carry