When playing cards, specifically games in which the goal is to take tricks (games such as Bridge, Hearts, Spades, or Euchre), players must follow suit by playing the same suit from their hands as what was lead. For instance, if diamonds are put down by the person opening that round, and you have diamonds in your hand, then you must play them.
The phrase
follow suit has taken on the more general meaning of doing as another person has done; following an example.
Synonyms would include
imitate,
copy, or
ape.
Footprints decided to C! Webster 1913's definition of Ralph, and inexplicably, thirty-four other people followed suit.
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- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company;
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=follow%20suit
- Lexical FreeNet
Connected thesaurus;
http://www.lexfn.com/l/lexfn-cuff.cgi?sWord=follow_suit&tWord=&query=show&maxReach=2&Atrg=on&Asyn=on&Agen=on&Aspc=on&Acom=on&Apar =on&Abox=on&Abnx=on&Abbx=on&Abdx=on&Abtr=on&Abak=on