fetching and carrying

Verb

fetch and carry (third-person singular simple present fetches and carries, present participle fetching and carrying, simple past and past participle fetched and carried)

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To serve obsequiously.
   • 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...1795, [Samuel Jackson] Pratt, “Letter XXXVII. To the Same [the Honourable Mrs. B.].”, in Gleanings through Wales, Holland and Westphalia. With Views of Peace and War at Home and Abroad. […], volume...
2. (dated, idiomatic, intransitive) To carry gossip, news, etc., from one person to another; to bear tales, to gossip.
   • And as Miſs is ſo fond of fetching and carrying, you may tell her we are to have a private play among ourſelves, as the quality have: the Diſtruſtful Mother, 'tis call'd— […]1770, Samuel Foote, The Lame Lover, a Comedy in Three Acts. […], London: […] Paul Vaillant; and sold by P[eter] Elmsly […]; and Robinson and Roberts, […], →OCLC, Act II, page 50

   Synonyms:

   blab, cag, chelp, clepe, dish, dish the dirt, gossip, jaunder, labrish, shoot the shit

3. (dated, idiomatic, transitive) To carry or convey (gossip, news, etc.) from one person to another; to bear (tales).
   • If we are of a froward peeviſh and untractable Temper, we ſhall be apt when we have nothing elſe to do, to be venting our Activity in factious and turbulent Zeal, in ſeditious Pratings and Conſpiracies, in backbiting our Adverſaries, and fetching and carrying ſcandalous Reports to create Jealouſies...1681, John Scott, “Concerning the Militant or Warfaring Part of the Christian Life, […]”, in The Christian Life, from Its Beginning, to Its Consummation in Glory; […], London: […] M. Clark, for...