CARRY ON THE ORIGIN

CARRY ON

The phrase used to mean continue with what you are doing stems for a nautical term used when ships were sail driven. The officer of the deck kept a constant eye on the weather so they could recognise the slightest change in wind conditions. The sails would be reefed or added as necessary ensuring the quickest headway. If a good breeze came along the crew were ordered to hoist every bit of sail the yards could carry or too ‘carry on’.

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