carry the day

Related to carry the day: Off the Top of My Head, calling it a day

carry the day

1. To win or have success. It's no surprise that star-studded team carried the day—they were favored to win, after all. After spending weeks constructing my project, I was thrilled to carry the day at the science fair.
2. To gain acceptance, as of an idea or concept. I thought his ideas were ridiculous, but they really carried the day with his audience.
See also: carry
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

carry the day

 and win the day
to be successful; to win a competition, argument, etc. (Originally meaning to win a battle.) Our team didn't play well at first, but we won the day in the end. Preparation won the day and James passed his exams.
See also: carry
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

carry the day

Win, prevail, as in At auctions the wealthiest bidders usually carry the day. [Late 1600s]
See also: carry
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

carry the day

JOURNALISM
COMMON If a person or their opinion carries the day in a competition or argument, they win it. For the time being, those in favour of the measures seem to have carried the day. Many here expect this radical plan to carry the day when the vote finally comes. Note: This expression was originally used to say which army had won a battle.
See also: carry
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

carry (or win) the day

be victorious or successful.
The sense of day used here is ‘the day's work on the field of battle’.
See also: carry
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

carry/win the ˈday

(formal) win a contest, an argument, etc.; be successful: It was a difficult match, but the New Zealand team finally carried the day.
See also: carry, win
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

carry the day

To be victorious or successful.
See also: carry
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • carry/win the day
  • the W
  • out to win
  • get the W
  • be in the running
  • in the running
  • in/out of the running
  • odds-on favorite
  • win-win
  • win around
References in periodicals archive
"Whoever dominates in the pack shall carry the day and for sure we want to avoid another defeat and reach the semis," said Oduk.
Big guns chase Kenya Cup semis slots
From Edward I's hopelessly outnumbered, trapped English invaders, who introduced the longbow at the battle of Crecy: Superior technology will usually carry the day. From the Maginot Line: Always protect your flank, dummies.
Lousy lessons from the battlefield
But it's also vitally important to keep our attention focused on the cases where panic, fear, and reaction still carry the day.
Moral panic buttons. (Editor's Note)
Our respondents tell us that "egos get in the way of getting things done." There are leaders who want to control and who let self-interest and elitism carry the day. Sometimes the wrong people--those who don't have the capacity to be inclusive--want to lead.
Why the Left Is Fragmented (and a Modest Proposal to Counter It)
In the last analysis, unless PPS is drastically revised - a seemingly unlikely event any time soon - it is this sort of attitude that will carry the day for many a facility.
A positive outlook
Rapping's feminist perspective is especially illuminating, and her two chapters on women in these movies carry the day. Rapping notes that TV movies are not only geared toward women, they portray women in a positive light.
The Movie of the Week: Private Stories, Public Events
At virtually every turn of a Clancy novel it's the wonder weapons that carry the day. For him the importance and feasibility of Stealth, ASAT, and SDI is beyond question.
Paperback fighter
Franklin Omwaka, Neville Otieno and Brian Nyongesa were on top of their game, but debutantes Eldonets still trailed 10-15 in the first quarter and 16-20 in the second.They came into the second half a rejuvenated side to lead the third quarter 29-24, but KPA regrouped for a 16-11 score line in the fourth quarter to carry the day.
Champs KPA beat fighting Eldonets
Even so, Howard with his pounds 139.99 low-fat chipper and pounds 150 glitzy Benidorm special leather jacket (as Sir Alan named it) failed to carry the day. So what went wrong?
A HARD SELL FOR HOWIE
It's unclear, though, if his view will carry the day.
Protest protection. (Citings)