carrying-on

Noun

carrying-on (usually uncountable, plural carryings-on)

1. (usually) Improper, immoral behavior.
   • -- One thing I know for sure - a person can't sneeze in this town without somebody offerin' him a handkerchief -- What you mean? -- Nothing. It's an awful small town for any kinda carryin' on...And some people got a lotta guns."1971, The Last Picture Show, 00:52:40
   • In fact, he walked out of Cambridge but would probably have been sent down had he continued his rowdy carrying on with such disreputable young men as Malcolm Lowry.1998,The Most Offending Soul Alive: Tom Harrisson and His Remarkable Life, by Judith M. Heimann, page 3

   Synonyms:

   Corinthianism, knavery, profligacy, rakehood, vice

2. (usually) Irritating or self-indulgent behavior.
   • I am bored by stupid discussions. By the quadrille of argumentation. The insolent carrying on of intellectuals. The empty formulas of philosophy.1988, Diary: 1953-56, by Witold Gombrowicz, page 29
   • I didn’t leave empty-handed though—I absconded with Oddle. I thought he’d make a nice pet and traveling companion. Also, I thought that leaving Tez penguinless might put a dent in his demented carryings-on.1989, Pilliard Dickle, “The Palace Calendar”, in The Calendar World of Pilliard Dickle: A Collection of Unique Poster Calendars, Good for All Eternity, Marietta, Ga.: Longstreet Press, →ISBN, page...