lead by the nose en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
The figurative senses are metaphorical extensions from the literal sense of leading a livestock animal by grabbing its nose or nose ring (with the latter hooked to a lead) or by pushing its nose into feed or water to encourage it to eat or drink.
Meanings
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(figuratively, idiomatic) To cause to follow blindly.
Because he was outorganized, Hutchinson cries foul. Sorry, but I simply cannot accept his view that Alliance members are mindless lackeys lead by the nose by the "leadership."
1983 December 24, Eric E. Rofes, “On Growing Pains”, in Gay Community News, volume 11, number 23, page 5:let him choose well his referendaries , for else he may be led by the nose
1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Suitors”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
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(figuratively, idiomatic) To lead by example and painstaking explanation, as one might do for remedial teaching.
We had to lead some users by the nose because they couldn't understand even the simplest instructions.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| leads by the nose | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| leading by the nose | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| led by the nose | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| led by the nose | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Coordinates
Relateds
red herring · lead someone down the garden path
Synonyms
Translations (8)
th จูงจมูก (Translations) · de an der Nase herumführen (Translations) · fr mener par le bout du nez (Translations) · ru води́ть за́ нос (Translations) · pl wodzić za nos (Translations) · es armar una cancamusa (Translations) · ro duce de nas (Translations) · cmn 牽著鼻子走 /牵著鼻子走 (Translations)