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; […]

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?

Without his inspiring companionship her spirits would have sunk, her heart must have broken. He fetched and carried, cooked and toiled, for her comfort; he devised a dozen schemes to divert her.

So for weeks the king King Arthur] was a drudge, fetching and carrying for this surly, bullying master.

Miss [Marie] Recio dominated [Hector] Berlioz who fetched and carried for her in the rôle of the henpecked lover, a part ridiculously at odds with the composer's arrogance – nor did it suit those eyes and that head.

If they all knew how she was feeling, they'd probably start treating her like an old person. Raising their voices and speaking in simple sentences and fetching and carrying. Hermione Moore had no intention of being fetched and carried for as long as she could assume a vertical position.

This young woman had an own cousin lived servant with her father, he was counsel keeper on both sides, and often fetched and carried.

What is called talebearing? He that fetches and carries, goes about from one to another, and says, "I have heard so and so from such an one. Such an one has done such a thing." And even should what he asserts be true, it is still mischievous and pernicious, as this prohibition comprises the fearful sin of speaking evil of any one, though it be truth.

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 and Animoſities between Neighbour and Neighbour.

Bronze is deſcribed as one of thoſe goſſiping companions who knows every body, are of every body's opinion, and are always ready to laugh at every body's joke; who […] allow themſelves to be laughed at, are invited on that account, or to fill a vacant chair at the table, and ſometimes merely to afford the landlord the comfort of having at leaſt one perſon in the company of inferior underſtanding to himſelf, whoſe chief employment is to fetch and carry tittle-tattle, and who become at length as it were one of the family, and are alternately careſſed and abuſed like any other ſpaniel in it.

While he Horace Walpole] was fetching and carrying the gossip of Kensington Palace and Carlton House, he fancied that he was engaged in politics, and when he recorded that gossip, he fancied that he was writing history.

[T]he gossiping good-sort-of-man doctor, who "fetches and carries scandal;" […]

[Y]ou come here to watch that girl, and spy upon her, and fetch and carry stories about her, to get her dismissed from the choir; I dare say that's why you come here.

Fetch and carry

Meaning

Verb

Synonyms