Carry the Torch
Pedagogically reviewed by LexFizz Team
To continue someone else’s important work or cause — or to feel a lasting, often unreturned love.
Quick meaning: To “carry the torch” usually means to keep a cause, tradition, or person’s work alive by continuing it yourself. It has a second, romantic sense too: to “carry a torch for someone” means to keep loving them even when that love is not returned.
Meaning
The main sense of carry the torch is to continue and uphold an important cause, mission, or body of work that someone else began. The image is of a flame passed from one hand to the next so that it never goes out — a symbol of continuity, dedication, and enduring values. A person who carries the torch keeps a movement, tradition, or legacy alive.
There is also a well-known romantic sense: to carry a torch for someone means to keep loving them long after a relationship has ended, or to love someone who does not love you back. This is the “unrequited love” meaning, and it gave us the term “torch song” for a sad love ballad.
Context makes clear which meaning is intended. “Carrying the torch for a cause” is about dedication; “carrying a torch for a person” is about lingering love.
Origin
The idiom draws on the ancient tradition of carrying a flame as a symbol of continuity and enduring values, most famously seen in the Olympic torch relay, where a single flame is passed from runner to runner to keep it alight. In the ancient world, a lit torch represented knowledge, life, and the passing of values from one generation to the next.
From this powerful image, English speakers developed the figurative sense of keeping a cause or legacy “alight” by continuing the work others started. The romantic sense, “to carry a torch for someone,” became popular in the United States in the early 20th century, where the torch symbolised a flame of love that the lover keeps burning even without hope of return. Reference works such as the Cambridge Dictionary catalogue thousands of such figurative expressions, showing how idiomatic meanings take shape over time.
Both senses share the same core image: a light that one person keeps alive through devotion.
Example Sentences
After the founder retired, his daughter carried the torch and kept the charity running for another thirty years.
A new generation of scientists is carrying the torch of climate research begun decades ago.
Years after they broke up, everyone could tell he was still carrying a torch for her.
Dialogue Example
A: Who’s going to lead the campaign now that Maria has stepped down?
B: Her deputy is ready to carry the torch. He shares all her values and won’t let the cause fade.
Usage Notes
The “cause/legacy” sense is semi-formal and common in journalism, speeches, and writing about traditions or movements. The “unrequited love” sense is more informal and usually appears as “carry a torch for someone.” Note the difference: “carry the torch” (a cause) versus “carry a torch for” (a person).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes mix the two patterns and say “carry the torch for someone” when they mean love. For the romantic sense, use the indefinite article: carry a torch for someone. For a cause, use the definite article: carry the torch. Also avoid “hold the torch,” which is not the standard idiom.
Related Idioms
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Quick Check: Carry the Torch
2 questions — test what you just learned.
1. What does “Carry the Torch” mean?
2. Complete the sentence: “B: Her deputy is ready to _____. He shares all her values and won’t let the cause fade.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “carry the torch” mean?
It means to continue someone else’s important work, cause, or tradition, keeping it alive. It can also mean to feel a lasting, often unreturned love for someone.
How do you use “carry the torch” in a sentence?
For a cause, say “she carried the torch for the charity.” For love, say “he’s still carrying a torch for his ex.” The article changes between “the” and “a” depending on the meaning.
Where does “carry the torch” come from?
It draws on the ancient tradition of carrying a flame as a symbol of enduring values and continuity, famously seen in the Olympic torch relay where a flame is passed from runner to runner.
What is the difference between “carry the torch” and “carry a torch for”?
“Carry the torch” (with “the”) means to continue a cause or legacy. “Carry a torch for someone” (with “a” and “for”) means to keep loving someone, often without that love being returned.
What is a “torch song”?
A torch song is a slow, sad love ballad about unrequited or lost love. The name comes directly from the idiom “to carry a torch for someone.”
Is “carry the torch” formal or informal?
The cause-related sense is semi-formal and common in speeches and journalism. The romantic sense is more informal and conversational.
Is this idiom used in American English?
Yes. Both senses are used in American and British English. The romantic “carry a torch for” sense became especially popular in the United States in the early 20th century.
What are some synonyms for “carry the torch”?
For the cause sense: “pass the baton,” “keep the flame alive,” “uphold a legacy.” For the love sense: “pine for someone” or “hold a candle for someone.”
Can “carry the torch” refer to a tradition?
Yes. You can carry the torch for any tradition, value, movement, or body of work that you choose to continue and keep alive for the future.
What English level is “carry the torch” suitable for?
It is pitched at B2 (Upper Intermediate) level, as it has two distinct meanings and relies on understanding figurative and cultural symbolism.