follow (redirected from following nose)

be a hard/tough act to follow

to be so good it is not likely that anyone or anything else that comes after will be as good. Last year's thrilling Super Bowl, when the New York Giants beat the Buffalo Bills 20-19 will be a hard act to follow. The new Chairman knows his predecessor is a tough act to follow.

See also: act, hard, tough

follow in someone's footsteps

to do the same job or the same things in your life as someone else, especially a member of your family. He followed in his father's footsteps and went into the army.

follow your nose

1. to make decisions by thinking of how you feel about someone or something instead of finding out information about them. As far as recruitment is concerned, I tend to follow my nose. I meet someone for an informal interview and see if I like them.

2. if someone tells you to follow your nose when they are explaining how to go to a place, they are telling you to continue in the same direction. Take the first on your right and follow your nose.

See also: nose

follow suit

to do the same as someone else has just done. If other companies lower their prices, we shall have to follow suit.

See also: suit

---

as follows

in this way or arrangement. Treatment of your injury is as follows — wash the cut and change the bandage daily.

follow in someone's/something's footsteps

to do something that was done before. My mother told us never to follow in her footsteps, that we should always try to do better. The company is following in the footsteps of other great research organizations.

follow your nose

1. to move forward. I followed my nose down the narrow streets toward where I remembered seeing a metro station.

2. to move in the direction of something you smell. I tried hiding that shoe in the closet, but my dog followed her nose right to it.

See also: nose

follow suit

to do the same as someone else has just done. If other stores lower their prices, we'll have to follow suit.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of follow suit (= to play a card of the same type as someone else just played in a card game)

See also: suit

follow through (on something)

to continue something until it is completed. It was an unpopular idea, but he followed through on it anyway. I am sorry now that I didn't follow through with music lessons when I was younger.

Etymology: based on the sports meaning of follow through (= to continue the movement of a swing, even after hitting a ball)

See also: through

follow up (on something)

1. to act on something. Some students said they were going to collect clothing, but they didn't follow up. You have to follow up on your application.

2. to discover more about something. I'd like to follow up on Rita's question because I'm not sure I understood your answer to her.

follow up with someone

to continue talking to or working with someone. I left Cynthia a message and asked her to follow up with Mr. Harley about his computer problem.

Usage notes: usually used when you talk to someone to be sure a problem is solved or a suggestion is acted on

follow up with something

to do something after having done something else. The gymnasts perform compulsory routines today and follow up with individual events tomorrow.

follow you to the ends of the earth

as far as possible. You cannot leave me because I will follow you to the ends of the earth.

See also: earth, end

a tough act to follow

so good that whatever happens next is not likely to seem as good. The last mayor was one of the most beloved in the city's history, which means Mike Ransom has a tough act to follow.

See also: act, tough