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Lead by the nose

verb

Definitions

Verb
  1. 1
    To cause to follow blindly. figuratively, idiomatic

    "let him choose well his referendaries , for else he may be led by the nose"

  2. 2
    conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end wordnet
  3. 3
    To lead by example and painstaking explanation, as one might do for remedial teaching. figuratively, idiomatic

    "We had to lead some users by the nose because they couldn't understand even the simplest instructions."

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.

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