What does the expression 'follow the scent' mean? If you want to find out, you're in the right place. In this article, we'll explore the meaning of this common idiom, its origins, and how to use it in a sentence.
If you want to know what it means, here's the short version:
'Follow the scent' actually has a literal and a figurative meaning. The literal meaning is used to refer to animals that have been trained to track various scents in the context of hunting.
The idiomatic sense of this expression is derived from that meaning, and it involves tracking or pursuing something by paying attention to clues or signs. This could involve investigating a situation, searching for information, or trying to understand a sequence of events.
Imagine, for instance, that you're watching a murder mystery movie.
You might hear them say:
The detective had to follow the scent of the mysterious clues to solve the baffling case.
Some variants of this idiom include 'follow a scent' and 'on the scent.' As well as that, it functions as a verb, meaning you might see it in different forms, including:
The idiom 'follow the scent' has its roots in the literal act of tracking or hunting, especially with the help of animals with a strong sense of smell, such as dogs. When hunting or searching, a person might follow the scent left behind by an animal to track its movements or locate its hiding place.
Metaphorically, the expression likely developed over time as people began to use the imagery of tracking a scent in various situations where one is trying to uncover information, solve a mystery, or understand a complex situation by following clues or evidence. The idea is to follow a trail of information or hints to reach a conclusion or find a solution, similar to how a tracker follows a scent trail.
Now that we've covered the meaning of this idiom and its origins, here are some example sentences where it is used. You'll notice I've included examples of other verb forms, such as the present participle, the past indefinite, and the third-person singular.
In order to find the lost keys, she decided to follow the scent of her footsteps from the last known location.
The journalist follows the scent of corruption to uncover the truth behind the political scandal.
To understand the origin of the ancient artifact, the archaeologist followed the scent of historical records.
As a scientist, she needed to follow the scent of the research findings to develop a groundbreaking theory.
The auditor is following the scent of financial irregularities to expose the embezzlement within the organization.
In order to succeed in business, entrepreneurs often need to follow the scent of market trends and consumer preferences.
The explorer had to follow the scent of animal tracks to navigate through the dense jungle.
To grasp the intricacies of the legal case, the lawyer had to follow the scent of witness testimonies and evidence.
The historian decided to follow the scent of archival documents to reconstruct the events leading to the conflict.
The journalist meticulously followed the scent of rumors and whispers to uncover the hidden story behind the celebrity's actions.
To gain the manager's favor and secure the promotion, the employee decided to follow the scent of success by consistently exceeding performance expectations.
There are many other ways to indicate that you'll follow the clues. They're great phrases to use if you're looking for alternatives.
Here are some of them:
That concludes this article about this famous expression. To summarize, to 'follow the scent' means to pursue something using observations or clues.
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