# lead by the nose

> English word · Verb

## Definitions
1. To cause to follow blindly.
2. To lead by example and painstaking explanation, as one might do for remedial teaching.

## 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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lead-by-the-nose