fetch and carry
/ˌfɛt͡ʃ n̩ ˈkæɹi/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.63 in modern English
27
Scrabble Score
13
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "It was curious to ſee what heavy burthens your true court-bred ladies and gentlemen can bear in the ſervice of their prince, aye and bear ſmilingly. […] [L]ike that enduring animal [the ass] they appeared to be ſo familiar with ſlavery, that they took patiently what nothing but a beaſt of burthen would deign to carry. […] As Benedict ſays, "an oak with but one green leaf on it, would have refuſed" to fetch and carry in this cur or courtier-like manner."
- "A nephew of hers, after receiving some learning at her ladyship's expence, got a commission, and fell upon the field of Waterloo; another is still at her heels, as a sort of jackall to fetch and carry when required."
- "Fitz was thus changed at once into "only my husband"—the humblest of all humble animals. He fetches and carries; goes errands, lugs bandboxes and bundles; takes up the yelling little Fitzgigs at night, when they squall, and walks in his shirt with them up and down the room for hours, whether the weather be warm or cold; […]"
- "[T]hey fetched and carried, and toadied and jobbed, and corrupted, and ate heaps of dirt, and were indefatigable in the public service."
- "But in reality, if girls get under kind mistresses who would teach them, and they were willing, they would be fit for any kitchen maid's situation; […] And then see what advantages those young girls had who were only fit to fetch and carry as they were ordered, but nevertheless had their wits about them and picked up a deal of knowledge, while only useful to hand things."
- "Can't I carry those things anywhere for you? No? to Lady River's room you say, and I should disturb her. Too clumsy, in fact—but what am I good for but to fetch and carry for you?"
Etymology
From fetch + and + carry, originally a reference to a trained dog fetching and conveying an object back to its master: see, for example, William Shakespeare’s play The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act III, scene i (spelling modernized): “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel, […] She can fetch and carry: why a horse can do no more; nay, a horse cannot fetch, but only carry, therefore is she better than a jade.”
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˌfɛt͡ʃ n̩ ˈkæɹi/
- British English: /ˌfɛt͡ʃ n̩ ˈkæɹi/