carry-on

From the verb phrase carry on.

carry-on (not comparable)

1. Taken onto an airplane with a passenger, rather than checked.

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

carry-on (plural carry-ons)

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

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

2. (Britain, New Zealand) An activity that is done in an excessively excitable or anxious manner.
   • 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.

• hand luggage

• roll-aboard, rollaboard