follow suit, to
follow suit
To do the same thing as others, especially by following their example. The phrase comes from card games, where there are four "suits" (diamonds, hearts, spades, and clubs). The people in front of us began to file out of the auditorium, and we followed suit. After that studio made that hit musical, plenty of others tried to follow suit.
See also: follow, suit
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
follow suit
to follow in the same pattern; to follow someone else's example. (From card games.) Mary went to work for a bank, and Jane followed suit. Now they are both head cashiers. The Smiths went out to dinner, but the Browns didn't follow suit. They stayed home.
See also: follow, suit
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
follow suit
Imitate or do as someone else has done, as in Bill decided to leave for the rest of the day, and Mary followed suit. This term comes from card games in which one must play a card from the same suit as the one led. [Mid-1800s]
See also: follow, suit
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
follow suit
COMMON If someone follows suit, they do the same thing that someone else has just done. Note: The following expressions refer to the four suits in a pack of cards: diamonds, hearts, clubs, and spades. The company provides childcare for the children of staff members. If only other employers would follow suit. If Tim had a stack of pancakes for breakfast, Emily would follow suit. Note: If you follow suit in a card game, you play a card of the same suit as the previous player.
See also: follow, suit
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
follow suit
1 (in bridge, whist, and other card games) play a card of the suit led. 2 conform to another's actions. 2 2002 History of Scotland The first Earl of Huntly was a Gordon by adoption. Many other lesser men followed suit, assuming the surname of so successful a family.
See also: follow, suit
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
follow ˈsuit
act or behave in the way that somebody else has just done: One of the oil companies put up the price of fuel today, and the others are expected to follow suit.If you follow suit in card games, you play a card of the same suit (= either hearts, clubs, diamonds or spades) that has just been played.
See also: follow, suit
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
follow suit
1. Games To play a card of the same suit as the one led.
2. To do as another has done; follow an example.
See also: follow, suit
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
follow suit, to
To imitate someone; to follow someone’s example. The expression comes from card games such as whist or bridge, in which one must play a card of the same suit as that which was led. The practice was literally spelled out in Cotton’s Complete Gamester (1680), but had obviously been transferred by the time Herman Melville used the expression (Moby-Dick, 1851): “I quickly followed suit and descending into the bar-room accosted the grinning landlord.”
See also: follow
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
- sure as eggs is eggs
- a penny for them
- great minds
- great minds think alike
- life of Riley
- the life of Riley
- be twiddling (one's) thumbs
- be twiddling your thumbs
- the life of Reilly