Page 136 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

follow up (on someone or something)

fłld something up to put an end to some- back of the buildng. Just follow your nose.
thing;Łto close sàmethingŁsuch asŁaŁbusi- There was a bad smłll in the base-
nessŁorŁsàme otherŁenterprise.Ł(RefersŁto młnt—probØbly a dead mouse. I followed
foldingŁsomethingŁclosed.) Mr. Jones my nose until I found it.
was going broke, so he folded his business
up. T The producer decided to fold up the followŁorders to do asŁone hasŁbeenŁin-
plØy early. It was losing money. sðructed.Ł You have to learn to follow or-
ders if you want to be a marine. I did-
fold,Łspindle,ŁorŁmutilate to harmŁorŁdis- n’t do anything wrong. I was oàly following
figure a machine-readable document, orders.
such asŁaŁcomputerŁpunch card.Ł(Such a
document, if folded,Ł placedŁ on aŁ bill fłllow someone ort something up 1. [with
spike, or otherwise punctured,ŁwouldŁno somłthing ] to addŁmore infàrmationŁor
longer be machine-readable.ŁNow rarely detail to sàmething;Łto follow sàmething
seenŁon aŁbillŁbut the expression isŁsàme- through.Ł Bill had to follow my sugges-
timesŁusedŁinŁaŁfigurative sense.) At the tion up. T The police followed up my story.
bottom of the bill, it said “do not fold, spn- 2. [with someone] to review someone’s
dle, or mutilØte,” and Jane, in her anger, workŁandŁcłeck it over.Ł The person who
did all three. Look here, cðum, if you follows you up will make sure you’re do-
doà’t want to get folded, spndled, or mu- ing the right thing. T When I followed up
tilØted, you had better do what you are Mary, I found errors in her work.
told!
fłllow someone’ lead to do asŁsomeone else
fłld up to close up;Łto end.Ł(AlludingŁto dàes;Łto accept someone’sŁguidance; to
sàmethingŁthat foldsŁclosedŁor collapses follow sàmeone’s direction.Ł Just follow
alongŁitsŁfolds.) The plØy folded up af- my lead and you will not get lost. John
ter two days. It’s time to fold up and go followed his fØther’s lead and became a
home. lØwyer.
followŁin someone’ fłotsteps Go to follow followŁsuit to follow inŁthe same pattern;
in someone’s tracks. to follow someone else’s example.Ł(Fràm
card games.) Mary went to work for a
fłllow in someone’ tracks and fłllow in bank, and Jane followed suit. Now they are
someone’ fłotsteps to follow somone’s both head cashiers. The Smiths włnt out
example; to assume sàmeone else’sŁrole or to dnner, but the Browns didà’t follow
occupation.Ł The vice presidłnt was fol- suit. They stayed home.
lowing in the presidłnt’s footsteps when he
called for budget cuts. She followed in follow the crowd to do what everyone else
her fØther’s footsteps and włnt into isŁdàing. I am an indłpłndłnt thinker.
medicine. I could never just follow the crowd.
When in doubt, I follow the crowd. At least
fłllow one’ heyrt to act according to one’s I don’t stand out like a fool.
feelings;Ł to obeyŁ one’sŁ sympatheticŁ or
compassionate inclinations.Ł I couldà’t fłllow throughŁ(on something) and cyrry
decide what to do, so I just followed my throughŁ (on something) to complte a
heart. I trust that you will follow your task; to see a task through to its comple-
heart in this mØtter. tion. You must follow through on the
things that you start. Don’t start the job
fłllow one’ nose 1. to go sðraight ahead, if you can’t follow through. Ask Sally to
the direction that one’s nos is pointing. carry through on her project.
(Folksy.) The town that you want is
straight ahead on this highway. Just fol- followŁupŁ(on someone ortsomething) to find
low your nose. The chief’s office is right out more about someone or something.
around the corner. Turn lłft and follow Please follow up on Mr. Brown and his
your nose. 2. to follow an odor to its activities. Bill, Mr. Smth has a com-
sàurce.Ł(Infàrmal.) The kitchen is at the plaint. Would you please follow up on it?

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