carry off

To make a performance, appearance, or way of behaving seem convincing and successful.

• She carries off that look beautifully.
• He carried off the role of a strict teacher convincingly.
• Can you carry off a French accent?

How to use it: carry something off (She carried the unusual costume off with confidence.)

Similar words: pull off

Common phrases: carry off a role, carry off a look, carry off something

To succeed in doing something, especially something difficult.

• It was hard, but we carried it off.
• She carried off the difficult task without any help.
• Do you think they can carry off such an ambitious project?

How to use it: carry something off (It was a difficult plan, but they carried it off.)

Similar words: pull off, accomplish, achieve

Opposites: fail

Common phrases: carry off something, carry off a plan

To take someone or something away from a place.

• Workers carried off the old sofa.
• The flood carried off several wooden fences.
• Can you carry off these bags of rubbish?

How to use it: carry something off (The workers carried the broken chairs off.)

Similar words: take away, remove

Common phrases: carry off something, carry off furniture

To win a prize, title, or other reward.

• She carried off the gold medal.
• Our school carried off three awards at the festival.
• Who will carry off the trophy this year?

How to use it: carry off something (Their team carried off the top prize.)

Similar words: win, take

Opposites: lose

Common phrases: carry off a prize, carry off the trophy

To take something that belongs to someone else, or take a person away by force.

• Thieves carried off her jewelry.
• The attackers carried off two children from the village.
• Someone carried off the money while we were outside.

How to use it: carry someone/something off (The raiders carried several villagers off.)

Similar words: steal, kidnap, abduct

Common phrases: carry off valuables, carry off someone

If a disease or disaster does this, it causes someone to die.

• The fever carried off many children.
• A winter illness carried her off before spring.
• The epidemic had carried off half the village.

How to use it: carry someone off (A sudden illness carried him off.)

Similar words: kill

Common phrases: carry off someone, carry off victims