Green’s Dictionary of Slang

usu. in pl., any form of conspicuous behaviour, e.g. making a fuss, flirting ostentatiously.

1678		S. Butler Hudibras Pt III canto 2 line 1147–8: Out-gifted, out-impuls’d, out-done, / And out-reveal’d at carryings-on.
1806		in N.E. Eliason Tarheel Talk (1956) 264: Brother James Daniel came forward and confessed that there was carrying on at his home [...] fiddling and dancing.
1843		W.T. Thompson Major Jones’s Courtship (1872) 167: Every body tuck Chrismus, specially the niggers, and sich carryins-on — sich dancin and singin, and shootin poppers and sky-rackets, you never did see.
1859		G.A. Sala Gaslight and Daylight 236: Many have heard her stern demands for rent, and her shrill denunciation of the carryings on of her tenants.
1861		R.F. Burton City of the Saints 227: Can’t come that ’ere tarnal carryin’ on over me.
1861		(con. 1840s–50s) H. Mayhew London Labour and London Poor III 382/1: I’ve had sprees at the country lodging-houses – larking, and drinking, and carrying on.
1871		C.G. Leland ‘Breitmann at a Picnic’ in Hans Breitmann in Europe 283: Boot ven de law, mit his myrmidon, / Vas hear of dese Dootchman’s carryins-on, / Dey sent bolicemen.
1888		‘Rolf Boldrewood’ Robbery Under Arms (1922) 109: It’s come just as I said [...] through Starlight’s cussed flashiness and carryin’s on in fine company.
1898		J.D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 36: Thats nice carryin’s on for a gal wots goin’ to be spliced the day arter to-morrer.
1908		D.G. Phillips Old Wives for New 193: ‘Oh! Oh!’ moaned she. ‘His carryings-on are killing me.’.
1913–14		E. O’Neill Warnings in Ten ‘Lost’ Plays (1995) 77: Mind you don’t wake the baby with your carryings-on.
1922		Joyce Ulysses 436: I was in a situation, six pounds a year and my chances with Fridays out and I had to leave owing to his carryings on.
1934		H. Miller Tropic of Cancer (1963) 216: She was getting me frightfully roused with her carrying on.
1949		R. Park Poor Man’s Orange 221: She felt after her carryings-on this afternoon, she had better pull her horns in a bit.
1958		A. Sillitoe Sat. Night and Sun. Morning 29: No one could have told Jack about his carryings-on.
1965		(con. 1940s) Malcolm X Autobiog. (1968) 188: I loved all of that dancing and carrying on.
1971		Wodehouse Much Obliged, Jeeves 141: The leaders of Society [...] would raise an eyebrow or two at carryings-on of this description.
2001		A. Sillitoe Birthday 75: He could no longer put up with her carryings on.