follow suit

Idioms and Phrases

Imitate or do as someone else has done, as in Bill decided to leave for the rest of the day, and Mary followed suit . This term comes from card games in which one must play a card from the same suit as the one led. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to follow suit.

From BBC

After a few people take a particular shortcut, others see the trampled grass and follow suit.

From Los Angeles Times

Ronald Reagan while serving as governor of California signed the nation's first law allowing for no-fault divorce in 1969, and a majority of states followed suit within the next 20 years.

From Salon

CNN was the first to announce the result, with every other TV network following suit over the next 15 minutes.

From BBC

In September, the Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2020, giving hope to prospective home buyers that mortgage rates would follow suit.

From Los Angeles Times