carry the baton

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiomfigurative

   To take over a job, duty, or tradition from someone else and continue it.

   Grammar: Used as a fixed phrase, often followed by 'for' plus the group or cause: carry the baton for reform.

   Patterns

   • carry the baton for someone
   • carry the baton of something
   • pass the baton to someone

   When the coach retired, her assistant carried the baton for the whole program.

   The younger generation now carries the baton of the family business.

   He carried the baton of the campaign long after its founder stepped down.

2. 2phraseidiomsport

   Literally, to hold and run with the short stick passed between runners in a relay race.

   Grammar: Used in sports contexts; the object is the relay stick itself.

   Patterns

   • carry the baton in a relay
   • drop the baton

   She carried the baton on the final leg of the relay.

   If you drop the baton, your team is disqualified.

Common combinations

carry the baton for someone

After the director left, Maria carried the baton for the team.

pass the baton

The outgoing chair passed the baton to her successor.

pick up the baton

When the leader resigned, others quickly picked up the baton.

carry the baton of tradition

The choir still carries the baton of an old singing tradition.

Synonyms and how they differ

take over

Focuses on assuming control of a task, while 'carry the baton' stresses continuing someone's work or legacy.

inherit

Suggests receiving something by right or family line, whereas 'carry the baton' can apply to any role passed on.

succeed

Means to come after someone in a post; it is more neutral and less vivid than 'carry the baton'.

Opposites

Word family

baton noun

The short stick used in a relay race or held by a conductor.

relay noun

A race in which team members take turns running with a baton.

handover noun

The act of passing a duty or role to another person.

Commonly confused: carry the baton or carry the can? carry the baton or carry a torch?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “carry the baton”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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