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carry off

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carry someone or something off

to take or steal someone or something. The kidnappers carried the child off. They carried off the child.

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carry something off

 

1. Lit. to take something away with oneself; to steal something. Someone carried off my books! I think someone carried off the lawn chairs last night.

2. Fig. to make a planned event work out successfully. It was a huge party, but the hostess carried it off beautifully. The magician carried off the trick with great skill.

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carry off something

also carry something off

to succeed in doing something A shaggy dog named Bugsy carries off some of the most amusing moments in the play. She said she never lies because she doesn't have a good enough memory to carry it off.

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carry off

1. Handle successfully, win, as in It was a difficult situation, but he managed to carry it off gracefully, or They carried off first prize. [First half of 1800s]

2. Cause the death of someone, as in The new African virus carried off an entire village. This usage is less common today. [Late 1600s]

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carry off

v.

1. To pick up something or someone and move away: The wind carried off the balloon. The criminal frowned as the police carried him off.

2. To steal something or someone: The bandits broke into the farmyard and carried off the chickens. The painting was the city's most treasured possession until thieves carried it off.

3. To handle or accomplish something successfully: The performance was unrehearsed, but we carried it off without a problem. The host carried off the event beautifully.

4. To win something, as an award or prize: The film carried off four of the top prizes. The prize was $10,000, and I was determined to carry it off.

5. To cause the death of someone: Heart disease finally carried him off. Many pioneers were carried off by fever.

See also: carry, off