What Does “Carry sb away” Mean?
“Carry sb away” means to make someone so excited or emotional that they lose control or act without thinking.
Introduction
The phrase “carry sb away” is a common English phrasal verb used to describe a situation where someone becomes overwhelmed by strong feelings, such as excitement, enthusiasm, or anger. The “sb” stands for “somebody,” meaning the phrase always involves a person who is affected emotionally. Understanding the carry sb away meaning helps learners express moments when emotions take over, causing impulsive or passionate behavior. This phrase is often used in both formal and informal settings and can describe positive or negative emotional responses. Knowing how to use “carry sb away” correctly will improve your fluency and make your conversations more natural.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: carry somebody away
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2
- Short meaning: to become so excited or emotional that you lose control
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Carry sb away” is a transitive phrasal verb, meaning it always needs a direct object (somebody). It is inseparable, so the phrasal verb stays together and you cannot put the object between “carry” and “away.”
Correct pattern: carry somebody away
Incorrect pattern: carry away somebody
How to Use “Carry sb away”?
You use “carry sb away” when describing someone who is overwhelmed by emotions like excitement, anger, or joy. It often implies that the person acted without thinking clearly because their feelings were too strong. It can be used in various contexts, such as sports, celebrations, arguments, or any emotionally charged situation.
Example: “I didn’t mean to shout, I just got carried away.”
Examples
- Don’t get carried away by the excitement before the game.
- She was carried away by her emotions and started crying.
- He got carried away during the debate and said things he didn’t mean.
- They were so happy they got carried away and danced all night.
- Carry sb away in a sentence: I got carried away by the music and forgot the time.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I got carried away the party.
Correct: I got carried away at the party. - Incorrect: She carry me away with her words.
Correct: She carried me away with her words. - Incorrect: Carry away him with your passion.
Correct: Carry him away with your passion.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrasal verbs include get carried away, which means the same but focuses on the person themselves becoming emotional. “Carry sb away” often implies someone else is affected or influenced.
Another related phrase is sweep sb away, which means to completely impress or charm someone, but it’s more about admiration than losing control.
Difference example: “He got carried away during the speech” (he lost control) vs. “The movie swept me away” (I was impressed).
Common Collocations
- carry someone away by emotions
- carry someone away with excitement
- carry someone away in anger
- carry someone away by enthusiasm
- carry someone away by passion
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of carry sb away:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: You looked really upset after the meeting. What happened?
Tom: I got carried away by the argument and said something rude.
Anna: It’s okay. Sometimes emotions just take over.
Tom: Yeah, I need to control myself better next time.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) She got carried away by the excitement and shouted loudly.
- b) She got carried away the excitement and shouted loudly.
- c) She got carried the excitement away and shouted loudly.
Answer: a)
FAQs
- Q: Is “carry sb away” formal or informal?
A: It is commonly used in informal and neutral contexts. - Q: Can “carry sb away” be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, “He got carried away yesterday.” - Q: What does “sb” mean in “carry sb away”?
A: “Sb” means “somebody” or a person. - Q: Is “carry sb away” separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; you cannot place the object between “carry” and “away.” - Q: Can “carry sb away” describe positive emotions?
A: Yes, it can describe excitement, joy, or enthusiasm as well as negative emotions.
