take a/(one's) cue from (someone or something)
(redirected from take cue from it)take a/(one's) cue from (someone or something)
To model one's actions based on the example or influence of someone or something else. The director definitely took a cue from his favorite film when framing that scene. Take a cue from your kids and learn how to enjoy the little things.
take one's cue from someone
to use someone else's behavior or reactions as a guide to one's own. (From the theatrical cue as a signal to speak, etc.) If you don't know which spoons to use at the dinner, just take your cue from John. The other children took their cue from Tommy and ignored the new boy.
take one's cue from
Follow the lead of another, as in I'm not sure what to bring, so I'll take my cue from you. This expression, first recorded in 1622, alludes to the cue giving an actor a signal to speak.
take your cue from someone
COMMON If you take your cue from someone, you behave in the same way as them. Taking his cue from his companion, he apologized for his earlier display of temper. Everybody working for you will take their cue from you.
take your cue from
follow the example or advice of.Cue in both of these idioms is used in the theatrical sense of ‘the word or words that signal when another actor should speak or perform a particular action’.