CARRY A TORCH (FOR SOMEONE), CARRY THE BALL, CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE: American English Idioms #36
CARRY A TORCH (FOR SOMEONE) To “carry a torch” for someone means to have romantic feelings for them, but not acting on them. Carrying a torch can refer to having romantic feelings for someone you are not in a relationship with. It can also be used as an analogy for someone carrying the emotional baggage…