  Carryin’ OnIn Appalachian and Southern speech, "carryin’ on" means acting up, fussing, or making a scene. It can describe rowdy behavior, loud complaining, or dramatic carrying. Tone decides whether it’s playful or critical. Hillbilly Dude Says...  It's kindly like 'carryin’ on' is about the same as saying "over and over", but not quite. This one's in use all over around here. Pronunciation[KARE-in ON] Meaning & Usage- To act rowdy or misbehave (verb phrase)
Mae:
What’s all that racket?
Earl:
Just the crowd carryin’ on.- To fuss, complain, or act dramatic (verb phrase)
Mae:
She was carryin’ on about the price of eggs.- To keep talking or carrying about something (verb phrase)
Earl:
He just kept carryin’ on like he knew it all.other spellings: acting up, fussin’, complainin’, and making a scene ★ "Carryin’ on" is one of those flexible sayings - it can mean fun, foolishness, or fussing. Context and tone tell you which. ★ OriginFrom the older English sense of "carry on" meaning to continue an action. In Appalachian and Southern speech, it shifted into a colorful way to describe rowdy or dramatic behavior. NotesStill common in Appalachia and the South, especially in family talk, schools, and churches. Outside the region, it’s understood but less commonly used in everyday speech. Say It Like a SouthernerSaid plain: "care-in on." The "g" in "carrying" is dropped: "carryin’." | About We are a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia, but wide as the world. Read more... |
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