Throw money at the problem

[1333] Carry out (a task/plan)

🎲 Check out (something/someone)
English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • A phrasal verb meaning to perform, execute, complete, or implement something that has been planned, ordered, or instructed.

Origin

  • Standard English phrasal verb, used for centuries.
  • Carry suggests moving something forward or undertaking it, and out implies bringing it to completion, fruition, or putting it into effect in the external world.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Execute (Often more formal, common in business/military/technical contexts)
  • Implement (Especially used for plans, policies, strategies, software)
  • Perform (Often used for actions, duties, experiments, operations)
  • Complete / Finish
  • Do / Undertake
  • Follow through (with/on) (Implies completing something previously started or promised)
  • Action (As a verb, often in business jargon: We need to action these items.)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Get it done / Get 'er done (Colloquial US)
  • Sort it out (Especially UK/Aus means handle, organize, or fix it)
  • Knock it out (Complete it, often quickly or efficiently)
  • Make it happen (Emphasizes achieving the result)
  • Tick it off the list (Complete a task that was pending)

Vulgar/Emphatic:

  • Get this shit done. / Get this fucking thing done.

Milder/Standard (often depending on the object):

  • Complete the assignment.
  • Execute the procedure.
  • Implement the strategy.
  • Conduct the survey.
  • Fulfill the order.

Situational Appropriateness

  • Neutral to formal.
  • Very common and appropriate in professional, instructional, procedural, scientific, and official contexts.
  • In very casual conversation, simpler verbs like do or finish might be preferred, but carry out is always understood.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Relatively straightforward.
  • Needs to be distinguished from the literal meaning of physically carrying an object out of a location (e.g., He carried out the trash). Context almost always makes the intended meaning clear.

Examples

  • The engineers successfully carried out the complex series of tests on the new engine.
  • Soldiers are trained to carry out orders precisely and efficiently.
  • Please carry out these instructions exactly as written.
  • We need to carry out a thorough investigation into the incident.
  • The committee was formed to carry out the recommendations of the report.

Dialogue

Supervisor: Johnson, I need you to carry out a full inventory check of warehouse section B by the end of your shift.

Johnson: Understood, boss. I'll carry out the check and submit the inventory report before I leave today.

Supervisor: Excellent. Let me know if you find any discrepancies.

Social Media Examples

  • LinkedIn Post: Our research team recently carried out a groundbreaking study on renewable energy efficiency. Read the findings here: [link] #Research #Innovation #Sustainability
  • Tweet (News Agency): Police are continuing to carry out investigations following the incident downtown yesterday.
  • Online Forum (Instructions): To ensure proper calibration, please carry out the following diagnostic steps carefully:

Response Patterns

  • Acknowledgment, confirmation, asking for clarification, indicating commencement or completion.
  • Will do. / Okay, I will. / Certainly.
  • Consider it done. (Informal confirmation of agreement to do it)
  • Understood. I'll get right on it.
  • Could you clarify step three? (If instructions are unclear)
  • The task has been carried out. (Reporting completion)

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After being asked to carry something out:

  • Request necessary resources, information, or tools: What equipment will I need to carry this out? / Where can I find the detailed plan?
  • Confirm understanding of the task: So, just to confirm, you want me to [summarize task]?
  • Begin performing the task.
  • Report back upon completion or if encountering problems: I've carried out the safety check as requested. / I'm having trouble carrying out step five.

After stating something was carried out:

  • Ask about the results or outcome: How did it go? / What were the findings?
  • Request documentation or proof: Can you provide the report?

Conversation Starter

  • No.
  • Usually part of giving instructions, delegating tasks, or describing actions taken or planned.

Intonation

  • Emphasis usually falls on carry and the object (the specific task, plan, order, etc.). CARRY OUT the PLAN. / CARRY OUT these INSTRUCTIONS.
  • Can be spoken neutrally, authoritatively (when giving an order), or descriptively.

Generation Differences

  • Universally understood and used. Standard English vocabulary.

Regional Variations

  • Standard and common across all English-speaking regions.
Throw money at the problem
🎲 Check out (something/someone)