leading

To ultimately yield or achieve no useful, beneficial, or successful result or outcome. This meeting is leading nowhere. We've been here for over two hours now and haven't even been able to come up with a name for our product! It appears that talks between Democrats and Republicans on a compromised spending bill have led nowhere.

Having or knowledgeable of the most advanced technology in a given area, activity, or endeavor. The local university's laboratory is on the leading edge when it comes to cancer research. Their latest smartphone is truly on the leading edge.

To exert a high degree of control over someone else. I can't stand the way your mother leads you around by the nose like that and tells you what to do!

Of spouses or romantic partners, to have a life together typified by arguments, fights, and disagreements. They were so happy when they first started dating, but after 10 years together, they've started leading a cat and dog life.

To be the first person in a line of people. All right, kids, who wants to lead the line when we walk to lunch today?

To marry someone. I can't believe it's only a month until I lead her to the altar!

A person who is well-respected and viewed as important to a group. As a leading light of the human rights organization, he helped improve working conditions for millions of people around the world.

Prov. Someone who is not capable of dealing with a situation is guiding someone else who is not capable of dealing with it. (See also .) Jill: Mike is helping me fill out my tax forms this year. Jane: Is he a tax expert? Jill: He read a book about income tax once. Jane: Sounds to me like the blind leading the blind. Nathan offered to be my guide through Philadelphia, but since he'd never been there before either, it was a case of the blind leading the blind.

Fig. a situation where people who don't know how to do something try to teach other people. Tom doesn't know anything about cars, but he's trying to teach Sally how to change the oil. It's a case of the blind leading the blind. When I tried to show Mary how to use a computer, it was a case of the blind leading the blind.

a question that suggests the kind of answer that the person who asks it wants to hear. The mayor was angered by the reporter's leading questions. "Don't you think that the police are failing to stop crime?" is an example of a leading question.

having the most advanced technology; knowing about the most advanced technology. (Alludes to the cutting edge of a sword.) This gadget is brand new. It's really on the bleeding edge. Tom is on the leading edge when it comes to optical storage technology.

a situation where someone is trying to show someone else how to do something which they do not know how to do themselves I tried to explain how the software works, but it was a case of the blind leading the blind, really.

an important and respected person in a group or organization (often + in ) A leading light in the art and ballet world, he was a close friend of Princess Diana. (often + of ) Jeffries, at 23 a leading light of the campaign, was the first to speak.

Those lacking the skills or knowledge for something are being guided by equally inept individuals. For example, Bill's teaching his son carpentry; that's a case of the blind leading the blind. The expression is found in the New Testament as one of Jesus's teachings (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39). [c. 1600]

An important or influential individual, as in Jim was a leading light in his community. This expression, alluding to moral guidance, dates from about 1870, but terms such as a shining light have been used for an outstanding person since the first half of the 1500s.

A question worded so as to elicit particular information or a particular answer, as in When are you selling the business? This example assumes that the person is going to sell the business, an action that may not have been established or revealed. This expression originated with a specific meaning in law, that is, "a question that guides a witness toward a desired answer." In court, this practice is called leading a witness and is forbidden. [Mid-1800s]