watch the commander's horse-head; follow someone's lead; take one's cue from someone
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
watch the commander's horse-head (to decide advance or retreat); metaphorically: to follow someone's lead; to take one's cue from someone
formalOriginally a military term. Now primarily used in formal or written contexts to describe unquestioning obedience or following. Often used in the structure "唯...马首是瞻" (look only to... for guidance).
Zhè这
ge个
tuán团
duì队
fēi非
cháng常
tuán团
jié结
，
dà大
jiā家
dōu都
wéi唯
duì队
zhǎng长
mǎ马
shǒu首
shì是
zhān瞻
。
This team is very united; everyone takes their cue from the captain.
Zài在
nà那
ge个
xiàng项
mù目
shang上
，
wǒ我
men们
wán完
quán全
wéi唯
tóu投
zī资
fāng方
de的
yì意
jiàn见
mǎ马
shǒu首
shì是
zhān瞻
。
On that project, we followed the investors' opinions without question.
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Tā他
quē缺
fá乏
zhǔ主
jiàn见
，
gōng工
zuò作
zhōng中
zǒng总
shì是
duì对
shàng上
si司
mǎ马
shǒu首
shì是
zhān瞻
。
He lacks his own opinions and always follows his superior's lead at work.
Zhè这
zhī支
jūn军
duì队
jì纪
lǜ律
yán严
míng明
，
shì士
bīng兵
men们
wéi唯
jiāng将
jūn军
mǎ马
shǒu首
shì是
zhān瞻
。
This army is highly disciplined; the soldiers look only to the general for direction.