- follow one's nose
- follow one's nose1. Lit. to go straight ahead, the direction that one's nose is pointing. •
The town that you want is straight ahead on this highway. Just follow your nose.
•The chief 's office is right around the corner. Turn left and follow your nose.
2. Fig. to follow an odor to its source. •The kitchen is at the back of the building. Just follow your nose.
•There was a bad smell in the basement—probably a dead mouse. I followed my nose until I found it.
* * *{v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To go straight ahead; continue in the same direction. * /Just follow your nose and you'll get there./ 2. To go any way you happen to think of. * /Oh, I don't know just where I want to go. I'll just follow my nose and see what happens./
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.