Meaning trap
carry over
transfer influence
to cause an attitude, effect, or behaviour from one situation or context to persist or have an impact in another, often unrelated, context.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
to cause an attitude, effect, or behaviour from one situation or context to persist or have an impact in another, often unrelated, context.
'carry over' also has the more basic meaning 'continue into another time'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
The stress he experienced at work often carried over into his personal life, affecting his relationships.
It is important for teachers to ensure that positive classroom behaviours carry over into students' interactions outside of school.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: Don't let work stress carry over your home life.
Say: Don't let work stress carry over into your home life.
'Carry over INTO' another situation — don't drop 'into'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Carry over into' is the natural way to say an effect persists into another context; the paraphrase is wordy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
carry over into
- into
- from
- the momentum
- old habits
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- carry over (continue into another time) — 'carry over' also has the more basic meaning 'continue into another time'; this is the advanced sense.