carry-on

alternative carryon

1. not comparableTaken onto an airplane (or a ferry, etc.) with a passenger, rather than checked.

   It's a compact suitcase, but it makes a good carry-on bag.

   Synonyms: hand, personal, cabin, flight · Antonyms: checked

plural carry-ons · alternative carryon

1. countableuncountableThat luggage or baggage which is taken onto an airplane (or a ferry, etc.) with a passenger, rather than checked.

   Do you think they'll accept my ski poles as carry-on?

   Synonyms: hand luggage, handcarry

   1. countableuncountableA bag, suitcase, etc., used to carry this luggage or baggage.

      "THAT'S NOT MY CARRY-ON, THOSE WOULD NEVER GET THROUGH SECURITY. ALSO YOU'RE GROUNDED"

      2022, Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content (webcomic), 4900 TeenSA

      Synonyms: hand luggage, handcarry

2. New ZealandUKcountableA palaver; a disorderly or absurd situation.

   Sometimes all this carry-on about race, religion and sex seems so petty and silly that I cannot take it seriously.

   1978 December 9, Nancy Walker, “Sexism and Racism at GCN?”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 20, page 10

   2 more examples

   "I love salad",she dared when it came to the next course, and then inwardly cringed when it seemed that that was actually a special order and there was such a carry-on about what kind of salad she wanted.

   2002, Lynne Graham, The Italian's Wife

   The stopping, restarting, swearing and routine self-deprecation ("I'm in trouble with the vicar – eternal trouble," quips Martin) is the kind of carry-on that has fans purring with pleasure.

   2011 November 27, Kitty Empire, The Observer

   Synonyms: riddle me ree, rigmarole, circus act, palaver, riddle me ree, rigmarole, song and dance