carry-on

From the verb phrase carry on.

carry-on (not comparable)

1. Taken onto an airplane (or a ferry, etc.) with a passenger, rather than checked.

   It's a compact suitcase, but it makes a good carry-on bag.

   Synonyms: (as attributive nouns before “luggage”/“baggage”/“bag”) hand, personal, cabin, flight

   Antonym: checked

carry-on (countable and uncountable, plural carry-ons)

1. That luggage or baggage which is taken onto an airplane (or a ferry, etc.) with a passenger, rather than checked.

   Synonyms: hand luggage, handcarry

   Do you think they'll accept my ski poles as carry-on?

   1. A bag, suitcase, etc., used to carry this luggage or baggage.
      • 2022, Jeph Jacques, Questionable Content (webcomic), 4900 TeenSA:

        "THAT'S NOT MY CARRY-ON, THOSE WOULD NEVER GET THROUGH SECURITY. ALSO YOU'RE GROUNDED"

2. (countable, Britain, New Zealand) A palaver; a disorderly or absurd situation.
   • 2002, Lynne Graham, The Italian's Wife:

     "I love salad",she dared when it came to the next course, and then inwardly cringed when it seemed that that was actually a special order and there was such a carry-on about what kind of salad she wanted.

   • 2011, November 27, “Kitty Empire”, in The Observer:

     The stopping, restarting, swearing and routine self-deprecation ("I'm in trouble with the vicar – eternal trouble," quips Martin) is the kind of carry-on that has fans purring with pleasure.

• rollaboard