[can’t help but]{informal} also {formal} [cannot but] {v.phr.} To be forced to; can only; must. •/When the streets are full ofmelting snow, you can’t help but get your shoes wet./ •/When a friend gaveJim a ticket to the game, he couldn’t help but go./ •/When a close frienddies, you cannot but feel sad./ Compare: CAN HELP, HAVE TO.

[can’t make an omelette without breaking (some) eggs] To achieve a certaingoal one must sometimes incur damage, experience difficulties, or makesacrifices. — A proverb. •/When we drove across the country, we put a lot ofmileage on our car and had a flat tire, but it was a pleasant trip. "Well, youcan’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs," my wife said with asmile./

[can’t see the wood for the trees] or [can’t see the woods for thetrees] or [can’t see the forest for the trees] {v. phr.} To be unableto judge or understand the whole because of attention to the parts; criticizesmall things and not see the value or the aim of the future achievement.•/Teachers sometimes notice language errors and do not see the good ideas ina composition; they cannot see the woods for the trees./ •/The votersdefeated a bond issue for the new school because they couldn’t see the forestfor the trees; they thought of their taxes rather than of their children’seducation./ •/We should think of children’s growth in character andunderstanding more than of their little faults and misdeeds; some of us can’tsee the wood for the trees./

[cap] See: FEATHER IN ONE’S CAP, SET ONE’S CAP FOR, PUT ON ONE’S THINKINGCAP.

[cap the climax]{v. phr.} To exceed what is already a high point ofachievement. •/Sam’s piano recital was great, but Bill’s performance cappedthe climax./

[card] See: CREDIT CARD, FLASH CARD, HOUSE OF CARDS, IN THE CARDS or ON THECARDS, LAY ONE’S CARDS ON THE TABLE, PLAY ONE’S CARDS RIGHT, PUT ONE’S CARDS ONTHE TABLE, STACK THE CARDS, TRUMP CARD.

[cards stacked against one] See: STACK THE CARDS.

[card up one’s sleeve]{n. phr.}, {informal} Another help, plan, orargument kept back and produced if needed; another way to do something.•/John knew his mother would lend him money if necessary, but he kept thatcard up his sleeve./ •/Bill always has a card up his sleeve, so when hisfirst plan failed he tried another./ Compare: ACE IN THE HOLE(2).

[care] See: COULDN’T CARE LESS, HAVE A CARE, GIVE A HANG or CARE A HANG,TAKE CARE.

[carpet] See: CALL ON THE CARPET, MAGIC CARPET, ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET.

[car pool]{n.} A group of people who own cars and take turns drivingeach other to work or on some other regular trip. •/It was John’s father’sweek to drive his own car in the car pool./

[carriage trade]{n.}, {literary} Rich or upper class people.•/The hotel is so expensive that only the carriage trade stays there./•/The carriage trade buys its clothes at the best stores./

[carrot and stick]{n. phr.} The promise of reward and threat ofpunishment, both at the same time. •/John’s father used the carrot and stickwhen he talked about his low grades./

[carry] See: CASH-AND-CARRY.

[carry a torch] or [carry the torch] {v. phr.} 1. To show great andunchanging loyalty to a cause or a person. •/Although the others gave upfighting for their rights, John continued to carry the torch./ 2.{informal} To be in love, usually without success or return. •/He iscarrying a torch for Anna, even though she is in love with someone else./

[carry a tune]{v. phr.} To sing the right notes without catching anyfalse ones. •/Al is a wonderful fellow, but he sure can’t carry a tune andhis singing is a pain to listen to./

[carry away]{v.} To cause very strong feeling; excite or delight tothe loss of cool judgment. •/The music carried her away./ •/He let hisanger carry him away./ — Often used in the passive, •/She was carried awayby the man’s charm./ •/He was carried away by the sight of the flag./

[carry coals to Newcastle]{v. phr.} To do something unnecessary; bringor furnish something of which there is plenty. •/The man who waters his grassafter a good rain is carrying coals to Newcastle./ •/Joe was carrying coalsto Newcastle when he told the doctor how to cure a cold./ (Newcastle is anEnglish city near many coal mines, and coal is sent out from there to otherplaces.)

[carrying charge]{n.} An extra cost added to the price of somethingbought on weekly or monthly payments. •/The price of the bicycle was $50. Jimbought it for $5.00 a month for ten months plus a carrying charge of $1 amonth./

[carry on]{v.} 1. To cause death of; kill. •/Years ago smallpoxcarried off hundreds of Indians of the Sioux tribe./ Compare: WIPE OUT. 2. Tosucceed in winning. •/Bob carried off honors in science./ •/Jim carriedoff two gold medals in the track meet./ 3. To succeed somewhat unexpectedlyin. •/The spy planned to deceive the enemy soldiers and carried it off verywell./ •/In the class play, Lloyd carried off his part surprisinglywell./

[carry --- off one’s feet] See: KNOCK OFF ONE’S FEET, SWEEP OFF ONE’S FEET.

[carry off the palm] or [bear off the palm] {v. phr.},{literary} To gain the victory; win. •/John carried off the palm in thetennis championship match./ •/Our army bore off the palm in the battle./(From the fact that long ago a palm leaf was given to the winner in a game as asign of victory.)

[carry on]{v.} 1. To work at; be busy with; manage. •/Bill and hisfather carried on a hardware business./ •/Mr. Jones and Mr. Smith carriedon a long correspondence with each other./ 2. To keep doing as before;continue. •/After his father died, Bill carried on with the business./•/The colonel told the soldiers to carry on while he was gone./ •/Thoughtired and hungry, the Scouts carried on until they reached camp./ Compare:BEAR UP(2), GO ON. 3a. {informal} To behave in a noisy, foolish, andtroublesome manner. •/The boys carried on in the swimming pool until thelifeguard ordered them out./ 3b. {informal} To make too great a show offeeling, such as anger, grief, and pain. •/John carried on for ten minutesafter he hit his thumb with the hammer./ Compare: TAKE ON(4). 4.{informal} To act in an immoral or scandalous way; act disgracefully.•/The townspeople said that he was carrying on with a neighbor girl./

[carry one’s cross] or {literary} [bear one’s cross] {v. phr.}To live with pain or trouble; keep on even though you suffer or have trouble.•/Weak ankles are a cross Joe carries while the other boys playbasketball./ •/We didn’t know the cheerful woman was bearing her cross, ason in prison./

[carry out]{v.} To put into action; follow; execute. •/The generalswere determined to carry out their plans to defeat the enemy./ •/Johnlistened carefully and carried out the teacher’s instructions./

[carry over]{v.} 1. To save for another time. •/The store had somebathing suits it had carried over from last year./ •/What you learn inschool should carry over into adult life./ 2. To transfer (as a figure) fromone column, page, or book to another. •/When he added up the figures, hecarried over the total into the next year’s account book./ 3. To continue inanother place. •/The story was carried over to the next page./