follow your nose

follow (one's) nose

1. To walk straight ahead (thus walking in the direction that one's nose is facing). A: "Should I turn here?" B: "No, follow your nose and keep walking in a straight line—you'll be at my house soon enough."
2. To follow a scent, in an attempt to find its source. I thought I smelled something baking, so I followed my nose down to the kitchen and found my mom icing a cake!
3. To trust one's instinct when making a judgment or decision or taking action. I tend to follow my nose when I have a bad feeling about someone, and it's helped me to avoid a lot of drama.
See also: follow, nose
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

follow your nose

1. If someone tells you to follow your nose when you are looking for a place, they are telling you to go straight ahead, or to follow the most obvious route. Follow your nose till you come to the church. Turn right there and it's in front of you.
2. If you follow your nose, you make decisions and behave in a particular way because you feel that this is what you should do, rather than because you are following any rules. As far as my career is concerned, I'd started writing for magazines while I was at college and I've just followed my nose doing that ever since.
See also: follow, nose
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

follow your nose

1 trust to your instincts. 2 move along guided by your sense of smell. 3 go straight ahead.
See also: follow, nose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

follow your ˈnose


1 be guided by your sense of smell: He followed his nose to the kitchen, and found Marina making tomato soup.
2 go straight forward: The garage is a mile ahead up the hill — just follow your nose.
3 act according to what seems right or reasonable, rather than following any particular rules: In situations like this, I think all we can do is follow our noses.
See also: follow, nose
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • follow (one's) nose
  • follow nose
  • follow one's nose
  • follow one's nose, to
  • get straight
  • line drive
  • be as straight as a die
  • straight goods
  • the straight goods
  • straight
References in periodicals archive
This summer grab your bike, follow your nose, palate and eyes through the beautiful French vineyards of Vouvray for a memorable moment that will stand out on your bucket list.
Wheels and wine in Vouvray vineyards; LUXURY GETAWAY
"You just have to follow your nose on these things and I feel we should stay in."
Jimmy: We are safer in Europe. Wars are awful. No one wants to go back
Follow your nose to the bottom of the Down escalator for creamy, gourmet fudge, hand-made and decorated in small batches by an artisan staff using only the finest, natural, gluten-free ingredients.
Free fudge treat for every reader!
You can follow your nose without having someone tell you you can't do it that way."
Stirring those creative juices
For a hardy, carefree shrub, follow your nose to a lilac bush.
Your gardening answers; Follow your nose to many fragrant plants
Anne Frank Call in at The Rijksmuseum to marvel at masterpieces from Rembrandt and Van Gogh, be deeply moved by the Anne Frank House, or simply follow your nose to the world's only floating flower market.
Try going Dutch for a scenic break
Any time you have a steady breeze, you potentially could follow your nose to your trophy.
Happy trails: standard trailing tactics always apply, but nonstandard tricks can save the day
You may very well find it too; just follow your nose!
Little stinker
Follow your nose Saturday to the Bite of Mount Hood at The Resort at The Mountain in Welches.
Buzzworthy
Follow your nose to the mulled wine to get things started.
this week we'll be mostly..
Just follow your nose - and make sure you wash them well.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK Pea and wild garlic flower salad with goat''s cheese
Go to www.visitshetland.com AUGUST 8-9 Follow your nose to the Abroath
Great UK days out
All you have to do is follow your nose. Seafood is to Margaritaville like bait is to fishing, or songs are to sailors.
While not a bargain at $7.99 per 368-gram box charged at the Stop & Shop supermarket outlet in Somerset, New Jersey, USA, Margaritaville brand Captain's Calamari Strips are "Great for Starters & Parties," proclaims the producer
Guy also acquired Follow Your Nose, a memoir by Lisa Price, owner of the cozy Brooklyn-based body product shop Carol's Daughter.
Deals. (Between the lines: the inside scoop on what's happening in the publishing industry)
At low tide, you can follow your nose, or ears, along the beach from Ford Cove to Heron Rocks for close views of sea lions and eagles perched side-by-side on Toby Islet and Norris Rocks.
Sea lions: spawning fish launch a winter wildlife extravaganza