carrying-on

[ kar-ee-ing-on, -awn ]
/ ˈkær i ɪŋˈɒn, -ˈɔn /

noun, plural car·ry·ings-on. Informal.

irresponsible, irritating, self-indulgent, or overwrought behavior: The baby-sitter was exhausted from the child's noisy carrying-on.
improper or immoral behavior.

Origin of carrying-on

First recorded in 1855–60

Example sentences from the Web for carrying-on

  • When she got going, laughing and carrying-on, what wouldn't she say, right out before anybody!

    The Brimming Cup |Dorothy Canfield Fisher
  • What's all this we hear about your carrying-on this morning?

  • They always seem to be happy, singing and “carrying-on” with the utmost abandon.

    The Spell of Flanders |Edward Neville Vose
  • There was a newly-married couple in our car, and of course lots of us were more or less interested in their carrying-on.

    Atchoo! |George Niblo

British Dictionary definitions for carrying-on

carrying-on

noun plural carryings-on informal

unconventional or questionable behaviour
excited or flirtatious behaviour, esp when regarded as foolish