carrying-on

plural carryings-on · alternative carrying on

1. uncountableusuallyImproper, immoral behavior.

   In fact, he walked out of Cambridge but would probably have been sent down had he continued his rowdy carrying on with such disreputable young men as Malcolm Lowry.

   1998,The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and His Remarkable Life, by Judith M. Heimann, page 3

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   -- One thing I know for sure - a person can't sneeze in this town without somebody offerin' him a handkerchief -- What you mean? -- Nothing. It's an awful small town for any kinda carryin' on...And some people got a lotta guns."

   1971, The Last Picture Show, 00:52:40

   Synonyms: Corinthianism, Corinthianism, knavery, profligacy, rakehood, vice

2. uncountableusuallyIrritating or self-indulgent behavior.

   I am bored by stupid discussions. By the quadrille of argumentation. The insolent carrying on of intellectuals. The empty formulas of philosophy.

   1988, Diary: 1953-56, by Witold Gombrowicz, page 29

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   I didn’t leave empty-handed though—I absconded with Oddle. I thought he’d make a nice pet and traveling companion. Also, I thought that leaving Tez penguinless might put a dent in his demented carryings-on.

   1989, Pilliard Dickle, “The Palace Calendar”, in The Calendar World of Pilliard Dickle: A Collection of Unique Poster Calendars, Good for All Eternity, Marietta, Ga.: Longstreet Press, →ISBN, page 22, column 2

   Then on Monday, there was a second cabinet meeting, followed by an appearance before the Knesset. Carter was appalled by the noisy carrying-on of the members. In addition to many meetings of Americans and Israelis in various subgroups, there was a meeting of the with the Foreign Relations Committee, which was no more decorous.

   2004, American Presidents, Religion, And Israel: The Heirs Of Cyrus, by Paul Charles Merkley, in the chapter "The Camp David Process", page 133