B2 Collocation 正式 2分钟阅读

carry before

يكتسح

字面意思: to move or transport something in front of you

Use this phrase to describe someone who is winning so much that nobody can stop them.

15秒了解

  • To win a complete and overwhelming victory over all opposition.
  • Often used as 'carried all before them' for major successes.
  • Implies total dominance and an unstoppable momentum in any field.

意思

To 'carry before' means to win a decisive victory or to overwhelm any opposition. Imagine someone sweeping through a room and everyone simply moves out of their way because they are so successful or powerful.

关键例句

3 / 6
1

Discussing a dominant sports team

The young tennis star carried all before her this season, winning every tournament.

The young tennis star swept everything before her this season, winning every tournament.

💼
2

Talking about a successful business launch

Their new smartphone model is carrying all before it in the global market.

Their new smartphone model is sweeping the global market.

💼
3

Texting a friend about a mutual friend's success

Did you see Sarah's presentation? She carried all before her and got the promotion!

Did you see Sarah's presentation? She swept everyone away and got the promotion!

🤝
🌍

文化背景

The phrase has strong roots in 18th and 19th-century English literature and military history. It suggests a force so irresistible that opposition is swept away like dust. While less common in modern slang, it remains a favorite of sports commentators and political analysts to describe a 'landslide' victory.

💡

Use 'All'

The phrase almost always includes the word 'all' (carry all before one). It sounds incomplete without it.

⚠️

Don't be literal

If you are literally carrying groceries in front of you, don't use this phrase. People will think you are talking about a victory over the eggs and milk.

15秒了解

  • To win a complete and overwhelming victory over all opposition.
  • Often used as 'carried all before them' for major successes.
  • Implies total dominance and an unstoppable momentum in any field.

What It Means

Think of a powerful wind blowing through a field. Everything in its path just moves with it. That is what carry before feels like. It describes a situation where someone or something is so successful that they win every single battle or argument. It is about total dominance and momentum. You are not just winning; you are winning effortlessly.

How To Use It

You usually use this phrase with an object like all or everything. For example, you might say a team carried all before them during the season. It sounds quite grand and dramatic. It is often used in the past tense because we usually describe a victory after it has already happened. It feels more poetic than just saying 'they won.'

When To Use It

Use this when you want to describe a massive success. It works perfectly for sports when a team is undefeated. It also fits in business if a new product destroys all the competition. If your friend goes to a job interview and impresses every single person they meet, you could say they carried all before them. It adds a touch of class to your storytelling.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this for small, everyday wins. If you found a five-dollar bill on the sidewalk, you did not carry all before you. It is also not for physical carrying. If you are literally holding a box in front of your chest, just say 'I am carrying this box.' Using the phrase there would make you sound like a confused time-traveler from the 1800s.

Cultural Background

This expression has a very 'old-world' British feel to it. It sounds like something a general would say after a successful military campaign. It evokes images of ancient armies or grand political movements. Because of this, it carries a sense of weight and importance. It makes the person you are talking about sound like a hero in a movie.

Common Variations

The most common way you will hear this is carry all before one. Sometimes people replace all with everything, as in carried everything before them. You might also see it in historical novels or high-end sports journalism. It is a bit of a 'hidden gem' in English—not everyone uses it, but everyone understands that it means a huge win.

使用说明

This is a formal and literary collocation. It is best used in writing or formal speaking to describe significant achievements. Avoid using it in very casual settings unless you are being intentionally dramatic or funny.

💡

Use 'All'

The phrase almost always includes the word 'all' (carry all before one). It sounds incomplete without it.

⚠️

Don't be literal

If you are literally carrying groceries in front of you, don't use this phrase. People will think you are talking about a victory over the eggs and milk.

💬

The 'British' Vibe

This phrase sounds very sophisticated and slightly British. Use it if you want to sound more eloquent in a professional setting.

例句

6
#1 Discussing a dominant sports team
💼

The young tennis star carried all before her this season, winning every tournament.

The young tennis star swept everything before her this season, winning every tournament.

Shows total dominance in a competitive field.

#2 Talking about a successful business launch
💼

Their new smartphone model is carrying all before it in the global market.

Their new smartphone model is sweeping the global market.

Used to describe a product that is beating all competitors.

#3 Texting a friend about a mutual friend's success
🤝

Did you see Sarah's presentation? She carried all before her and got the promotion!

Did you see Sarah's presentation? She swept everyone away and got the promotion!

A slightly more elevated way to praise a friend's big win.

#4 A humorous take on a hungry person at a buffet
😄

Once he reached the dessert table, he carried all before him until the plates were empty.

Once he reached the dessert table, he swept through everything until the plates were empty.

Using a grand phrase for a silly situation creates humor.

#5 Describing a historical leader
👔

The emperor's army carried all before them as they marched across the continent.

The emperor's army swept everything before them as they marched across the continent.

The classic, historical way to use the phrase.

#6 An emotional speech about a survivor
💭

Despite the hardships, her spirit carried all before it, inspiring everyone she met.

Despite the hardships, her spirit overcame everything, inspiring everyone she met.

Focuses on the power of personality or spirit to overcome obstacles.

自我测试

Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.

The new political party carried all ___ them in the recent elections.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: before

The phrase is 'carry all before (someone)', meaning to be completely successful.

Which context best fits the phrase 'carry all before one'?

The champion boxer ___.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: carried all before him

This is the standard expression for someone who is undefeated and dominant.

🎉 得分: /2

视觉学习工具

Formality Spectrum

Informal

Crushed it / Slayed

He totally crushed it at the game.

Neutral

Won easily

They won the match easily.

Formal

Carried all before them

The team carried all before them this year.

When to say 'Carry Before'

Carry All Before
🏆

Sports Dominance

An undefeated season.

📈

Business Success

A product that kills the competition.

⚔️

Historical Context

A general winning a war.

🎓

Personal Achievement

Acing every single exam.

常见问题

10 个问题

No, in this idiom, it is figurative. It means to be successful and overcome all obstacles, like in The team carried all before them.

It is not very common in casual slang. You are more likely to see it in books, newspapers, or formal speeches.

It is better for big, overwhelming victories. Using it for a small win like I carried all before me at the grocery store sounds sarcastic or humorous.

The most common form is to carry all before one, usually used in the past tense as carried all before them.

Generally, no. It is a positive description of success, though it can sound a bit intimidating to the people who were defeated.

Yes, carry everything before one is a perfectly acceptable and common variation of the phrase.

It is used in both, but it has a more traditional British feel to it. It sounds slightly more 'classic' than modern American English.

Yes! It is a great way to describe a successful project or a dominant market position, such as Our new strategy is carrying all before it.

The most common mistake is forgetting the word all or everything. Saying just he carried before him sounds incomplete.

The pronoun always matches the subject. For example, She carried all before her or They carried all before them.

相关表达

Sweep the board

Take by storm

Win hands down

Clean sweep

Come out on top

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