to follow an argument definition, to follow an argument meaning | English Cobuild
follow
[follows3rd person present][followingpresent participle][followedpast tense & past participle]1verbIf you follow someone who is going somewhere, you move along behind them because you want to go to the same place.
We followed him up the steps into a large hall...V n prep/adv
Please follow me, madam...V n
They took him into a small room and I followed.V, Also V after n
We followed him up the steps into a large hall...V n prep/adv
Please follow me, madam...V n
They took him into a small room and I followed.V, Also V after n
2verbIf you follow someone who is going somewhere, you move along behind them without their knowledge, in order to catch them or find out where they are going.
[=trail]
She realized that the Mercedes was following her...V n
I think we're being followed.V n
She realized that the Mercedes was following her...V n
I think we're being followed.V n
3verbIf you follow someone to a place where they have recently gone and where they are now, you go to join them there.
He followed Janice to New York, where she was preparing an exhibition.V n to n
He followed Janice to New York, where she was preparing an exhibition.V n to n
4verbAn event, activity, or period of time that follows a particular thing happens or comes after that thing, at a later time.
...the rioting and looting that followed the verdict...V n
Other problems may follow...V
Eyewitnesses spoke of a noise followed by a huge red light.V-ed
...the rioting and looting that followed the verdict...V n
Other problems may follow...V
Eyewitnesses spoke of a noise followed by a huge red light.V-ed
5verbIf you follow one thing with another, you do or say the second thing after you have done or said the first thing.
Her first major role was in Martin Scorsese's `Goodfellas' and she followed this with a part in Spike Lee's `Jungle Fever'.V n with n
Follow up means the same as follow., phrasal verb
The book proved such a success that the authors followed it up with `The Messianic Legacy'.V n P with n, Also V P n [not pron] with n
Her first major role was in Martin Scorsese's `Goodfellas' and she followed this with a part in Spike Lee's `Jungle Fever'.V n with n
Follow up means the same as follow., phrasal verb
The book proved such a success that the authors followed it up with `The Messianic Legacy'.V n P with n, Also V P n [not pron] with n
6verbIf it follows that a particular thing is the case, that thing is a logical result of something else being true or being the case.
Just because a bird does not breed one year, it does not follow that it will fail the next...it V that
If the explanation is right, two things follow...V
It is easy to see the conclusions described in the text follow from this equation.V from n
Just because a bird does not breed one year, it does not follow that it will fail the next...it V that
If the explanation is right, two things follow...V
It is easy to see the conclusions described in the text follow from this equation.V from n
7verbIf you refer to the words that follow or followed, you are referring to the words that come next or came next in a piece of writing or speech.
What follows is an eye-witness account...V
There followed a list of places where Hans intended to visit...there V n
General analysis is followed by five case studies.be V-ed by n
What follows is an eye-witness account...V
There followed a list of places where Hans intended to visit...there V n
General analysis is followed by five case studies.be V-ed by n
8verbIf you follow a path, route, or set of signs, you go somewhere using the path, route, or signs to direct you.
If they followed the road, they would be certain to reach a village...V n
I followed the signs to Metrocity.V n prep/adv
If they followed the road, they would be certain to reach a village...V n
I followed the signs to Metrocity.V n prep/adv
9verbIf something such as a path or river follows a particular route or line, it goes along that route or line.
Our route follows the Pacific coast through densely populated neighbourhoods...V n
Our route follows the Pacific coast through densely populated neighbourhoods...V n
10verbIf you follow something with your eyes, or if your eyes follow it, you watch it as it moves or you look along its route or course.
Ann's eyes followed a police car as it drove slowly past.V n
Ann's eyes followed a police car as it drove slowly past.V n
11verbSomething that follows a particular course of development happens or develops in that way.
His release turned out to follow the pattern set by that of the other six hostages.V n
His release turned out to follow the pattern set by that of the other six hostages.V n
12verbIf you follow advice, an instruction, or a recipe, you act or do something in the way that it indicates.
Take care to follow the instructions carefully...V n
Take care to follow the instructions carefully...V n
13verbIf you follow what someone else has done, you do it too because you think it is a good thing or because you want to copy them.
His admiration for the athlete did not extend to the point where he would follow his example in taking drugs...V n
Where eastern Germany goes the rest will surely follow.V
His admiration for the athlete did not extend to the point where he would follow his example in taking drugs...V n
Where eastern Germany goes the rest will surely follow.V
14verbIf you follow someone in what you do, you do the same thing or job as they did previously.
He followed his father and became a surgeon...V n
Anni-Frid's son has followed her into the music business.V n into n
He followed his father and became a surgeon...V n
Anni-Frid's son has followed her into the music business.V n into n
15verbIf you are able to follow something such as an explanation or the story of a film, you understand it as it continues and develops.
[=understand]
Can you follow the plot so far?...V n
I'm afraid I don't follow.V
Can you follow the plot so far?...V n
I'm afraid I don't follow.V
16verbIf you follow something, you take an interest in it and keep informed about what happens.
...the millions of people who follow football because they genuinely love it...V n
She was following Laura's progress closely.V n
...the millions of people who follow football because they genuinely love it...V n
She was following Laura's progress closely.V n
17verbIf you follow a particular religion or political belief, you have that religion or belief.
`Do you follow any particular religion?'`Yes, we're all Hindus.'V n
`Do you follow any particular religion?'`Yes, we're all Hindus.'V n
18
following
following
19You use as follows in writing or speech to introduce something such as a list, description, or explanation.
as followsphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
The winners are as follows: E. Walker; R. Foster; R. Gates; A. Mackintosh..., This can be done if you proceed as follows.
as followsphrasev-link PHR, PHR after v
The winners are as follows: E. Walker; R. Foster; R. Gates; A. Mackintosh..., This can be done if you proceed as follows.
20You use followed by to say what comes after something else in a list or ordered set of things.
followed byphrasePHR n
Potatoes are still the most popular food, followed by white bread.
followed byphrasePHR n
Potatoes are still the most popular food, followed by white bread.
21After mentioning one course of a meal, you can mention the next course by saying what you will have to follow or what there will be to follow.
to followphrasen PHR
He decided on roast chicken and vegetables, with apple pie to follow.
to followphrasen PHR
He decided on roast chicken and vegetables, with apple pie to follow.
22
to follow in someone's footsteps
footstep
to follow your nose
nose
to follow suit
suitfollow throughphrasal verbIf you follow through an action, plan, or idea or follow throughwith it, you continue doing or thinking about it until you have done everything possible. [=pursue]
The leadership has been unwilling to follow through the implications of these ideas...V P n [not pron]
I was trained to be an actress but I didn't follow it through...V n P
He decided to follow through with his original plan.V P with n/-ing, Also V P, V P on nfollow upphrasal verbIf you follow up something that has been said, suggested, or discovered, you try to find out more about it or take action about it. [=investigate]
State security police are following up several leads...V P n [not pron]
An officer took a statement from me, but no one's bothered to follow it up.V n P
follow 5
follow-up
to follow in someone's footsteps
footstep
to follow your nose
nose
to follow suit
suitfollow throughphrasal verbIf you follow through an action, plan, or idea or follow throughwith it, you continue doing or thinking about it until you have done everything possible. [=pursue]
The leadership has been unwilling to follow through the implications of these ideas...V P n [not pron]
I was trained to be an actress but I didn't follow it through...V n P
He decided to follow through with his original plan.V P with n/-ing, Also V P, V P on nfollow upphrasal verbIf you follow up something that has been said, suggested, or discovered, you try to find out more about it or take action about it. [=investigate]
State security police are following up several leads...V P n [not pron]
An officer took a statement from me, but no one's bothered to follow it up.V n P
follow 5
follow-up
follow-on
A follow-on is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously.n-singalso no det, usu N to n
This course for bridge players with some experience is intended as a follow-on to the Beginners' course.
A follow-on is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously.n-singalso no det, usu N to n
This course for bridge players with some experience is intended as a follow-on to the Beginners' course.
follow-through[follow-throughsplural]
1n-uncountA follow-through is something that completes an action or a planned series of actions.
also a N, oft N prep
...the task of finding a durable solution to the refugee problem as a follow-through to the very temporary measures.
also a N, oft N prep
...the task of finding a durable solution to the refugee problem as a follow-through to the very temporary measures.
2n-varA follow-through is a movement that completes an action such as hitting a ball.
Focus on making a short, firm follow-through.
Focus on making a short, firm follow-through.
follow-up[follow-upsplural]A follow-up is something that is done to continue or add to something done previously.n-varoft N n
They are recording a follow-up to their successful 1989 album..., One man was arrested during the raid and another during a follow-up operation.
They are recording a follow-up to their successful 1989 album..., One man was arrested during the raid and another during a follow-up operation.
- compromise v.settling an argument
- pick a fight exp.start an argument on purpose
-
more holes than a Swiss cheese adj.a phrase to qualify something that has a lot of faults and problems. If an argument or a story has more holes than the distinctive gaps in the said Swiss cheese, its definitely got a lot of issues.
Ex.: I didn't enjoy his last movie at all; the plot had more holes than a Swiss cheese and the scenario was totally improbable. - copyleft n.1. using copyright law to make a piece of work freely available and allowing its free distribution and modification [as long as its derivate versions follow the same copyright rules]
- captious adj.inclined to bring forward small faults; made to confuse in argument
- captious n.1: marked by an often ill-natured inclination to stress faults and raise objections 2: calculated to confuse, entrap, or entangle in argument
- fashionista n.1. a fashion enthusiast; someone who sets or follows trends; 2. woman working in the fashion domain [as a designer, journalist, model etc.]; 3. woman passionate about shopping;
- wipe the floor with somebody exp.defeat someone with arguments during a discussion; knock out [Fig.]
- you catch more flies with honey exp.The actual say is: "You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar" This means that it is easier to persuade people if you use polite arguments and flattery than if you are confrontational.
Advertising
Alphabetical index
- follow up
- to follow
- follow suit
- follow through
Welcome to English-Cobuild Collins dictionary ["Collins Cobuild English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition published in 2003 © HarperCollins Publishers 1987, 1995, 2001, 2003 and Collins A-Z Thesaurus 1st edition first published in 1995 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995"].
Type the word that you look for in the search box above. The results will include words and phrases from the general dictionary as well as entries from the collaborative one.