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Glite Dictionary
☠️ To kill 🚚 To take away 🏆 To succeed
to carry off

to carry off

2 5.3
To do something difficult successfully and with skill
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈkæri ɔf/
translation icon : lograr
  • He wore that suit with confidence, and he really carried off the elegant look.
  • carried off the prize
  • enough to carry off
  • woman who can carry off

Examples

  • She managed to carry off the difficult role in the play, impressing everyone with her performance.

  • You know, it's a particular breed of man who can carry off an outfit like that.

    Gunless (2010)

  • The confidence and attitude with which you carry off these changes is what matters.

    Blog text (16)

  • The episode hinged on them being able to carry off the piece, and for me, they did.

    Blog text (21)

  • Part of the role seemed to require a certain lofty aloofness, which she carried off to perfection.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The team carried off the presentation effectively and enthusiastically, responded to audience questions, and received a warm reception from the professionals in attendance.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Despite her physical limitations, Antonia manages to carry off an air of mastery.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Only Etta, though, could carry off a beehive wig the color of pink lemonade.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Only a talented dancer can carry off such complex choreography with such grace.

Synonyms

to manage
vsto carry off
∞ 3.2

To do something difficult, often with little help

highlights succeeding with skill and confident style not just coping
to pull off
vsto carry off
301 4.1

To manage to do something difficult or unexpected

emphasizes doing it with skill or confident style
to carry through
vsto carry off
2 3.7

Finish something successfully when it is difficult

focuses more on manner and confident presentation than duration
to bring off
vsto carry off
1 6.1

To succeed in doing something difficult

stresses also performing or wearing things with confidence

Antonyms

to fail
898 1.0

Not succeed in doing something you wanted to do

How Successful

triumph
262 3.3
to carry off
2 5.3
to manage
∞ 3.2
attempt
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

carry off infinitive

Morphology

carry + off

The literal sense 'to remove or transport' is directly compositional from 'carry' (to transport) + 'off' (away/removing) and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows the parts. However, the additional sense of moving someone emotionally or metaphorical extensions (and other idiomatic senses) are less predictable from the parts, so overall the item is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Carry off paints the picture of finishing a hard job and then actually carrying a prize off the stage. So, if someone 'carries off' a performance or a look, they 'succeed' at it or wear it with confidence.