What Does “Carry sth away” Mean?
“Carry sth away” means to be so excited or involved in something that you lose control or forget your limits. It can also mean physically moving something from one place to another.
Introduction
The phrase “carry sth away” is a common phrasal verb in English that has both literal and figurative meanings. The carry sth away meaning often depends on the context. Literally, it means to physically lift and move an object from one place to another. Figuratively, it means to become so emotionally involved or excited that you lose control or act impulsively. Understanding this phrasal verb can help you communicate more naturally in everyday conversations and avoid misunderstandings. In this article, you will find clear explanations, examples, and tips on how to use “carry sth away” correctly.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: carry sth away (carry something away)
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to remove something physically or to become too excited and lose control
Structure (Grammar Rules)
“Carry sth away” is a separable phrasal verb, which means you can place the object between “carry” and “away” or after the entire phrase.
- Carry + something + away (e.g., carry the box away)
- Carry away + something (e.g., carry away the box)
Note: When using pronouns, the pronoun must come between “carry” and “away.” For example, “carry it away” (correct) not “carry away it” (incorrect).
How to Use “Carry sth away”?
Use “carry sth away” when talking about physically moving objects or when describing someone becoming too excited or emotional. The context usually makes the meaning clear. For example, if someone is very excited during a game, you can say they got “carried away.” If you help someone by moving their bags, you can say you “carried the bags away.”
Examples
- Don’t get carried away during the argument; stay calm.
- They carried away all the boxes after the party.
- She was so excited that she got carried away and bought too many clothes.
- Can you help me carry this chair away to the other room?
- He tends to get carried away when talking about his favorite team.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I carried away it to the car.
Correct: I carried it away to the car. - Incorrect: She got carried it away by the excitement.
Correct: She got carried away by the excitement.
Differences / Synonyms
Carry sth away vs. take sth away: Both can mean physically moving an object, but “take away” is more common in everyday use for removing something permanently or as a service (e.g., take away food). “Carry away” emphasizes the action of physically moving something, often with effort.
Carry sth away vs. get carried away: “Get carried away” is a fixed expression meaning to become overly excited or lose control. “Carry sth away” can be literal or figurative depending on the context.
Common Collocations
- Carry the box away
- Carry the trash away
- Carry the furniture away
- Get carried away with excitement
- Don’t get carried away by emotions
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of carry sth away:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Can you help me carry these bags away to the car?
Ben: Sure! They look heavy.
Anna: Thanks! I got a bit carried away with shopping today.
Ben: I can see that! Let’s get everything loaded quickly.
Practice
Choose the correct option to complete the sentence:
- She __________ too much during the party and forgot to call me.
a) carried away
b) got carried away
c) carry away - Can you help me __________ these boxes to the storage room?
a) carry away
b) carry it away
c) carry them away
FAQs
- What does “carry something away” mean?
It means to physically move something or to become too excited and lose control. - Is “carry away” separable?
Yes, you can place the object between “carry” and “away” or after the whole phrase. - Can “carry away” be used with pronouns?
Yes, but the pronoun must go between “carry” and “away.” - What is the difference between “carry away” and “take away”?
“Carry away” focuses on physically moving something, often with effort. “Take away” is more general and can mean removing or taking something permanently. - Can “carry away” be used figuratively?
Yes, it means to become overly excited or lose control due to emotions.
