follow (someone or something) in stride
To follow the direction, lead, or guidance (of someone or something); to act in accordance (with someone or something); to follow suit. I hope your little sister doesn't follow your bad behavior in stride. If you can develop a really strong social presence for your company, then your sales will follow in stride. I really hope the new president doesn't follow his predecessor in stride.
follow in (one's) footsteps
To pursue something that someone else (often a family member) has already done. My father was an engineer, and I plan to follow in his footsteps and study engineering in college. I am following in my sister's footsteps and joining her old sorority.
follow in the footsteps of
To pursue something that someone else (often a family member) has already done. I plan to follow in the footsteps of my father and study engineering in college. We are following in the footsteps of all the members of the sorority that came before us!
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 take action based on one's instinct. 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.
follow the example of
To do something that another person is doing. Growing up, I really tried not to follow the example of my older brother, as he was always getting into trouble. I try to follow the example of Mother Teresa and treat all people with kindness.
follow the sea
To be a sailor; to live a sailor's life. I always assumed that I would follow the sea, like all of the men in my family, but I just didn't have the constitution for that life.