carry someone's water

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

carry someone's water (third-person singular simple present carries someone's water, present participle carrying someone's water, simple past and past participle carried someone's water)

1. (intransitive, idiomatic) To do someone's bidding; to serve someone's interests.
   • 1996, James Carroll, The City Below, page 287:

     "I hear things are good." / Moran shrugged. "Depends on who you're talking to. Who would you be talking to, Squire?" / "Frank" / "I thought that might be it. You still carrying his water?

   • 2005, Martin Clark, Plain Heathen Mischief, page 394:

     I've discovered the Lord doesn't need lackeys, lieutenants, minions, representatives and envoys to carry His water and discharge His affairs.

   • 2006, James Bruno, Chasm, page 113:

     "Nope. Just here to see a staffer about something." / "Staffers. Yeah, well. They hold the Congressman's bag and carry his water sometimes all right."

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:obey or Thesaurus:serve