theo đuôi
Definition
- Verb phrase:
- To follow blindly / to tail behind: To imitate or follow someone or something without independent thought or critical judgment, often in a passive, unthinking manner.
- To be a follower / to adhere slavishly: To adopt the ideas, styles, or policies of another person or group without originality or adaptation.
Usage Examples
- Verb phrase:
- Anh ta không có chính kiến, chỉ biết theo đuôi người khác. (He has no opinion of his own; he only knows how to follow others blindly.)
- Công ty đó không đổi mới, họ chỉ theo đuôi đối thủ. (That company doesn't innovate; they just slavishly follow their competitors.)
- Đừng theo đuôi mốt một cách mù quáng. (Don't follow fashion trends blindly.)
Advanced Usage
- This phrase often carries a strong negative connotation, criticizing a lack of independence, creativity, or courage.
- It can be used in various contexts: personal behavior, business strategy, politics, or cultural trends.
Variants and Related Words
- Theo đuôi chủ nghĩa (n): Followism; the practice or policy of blindly following.
- Chủ nghĩa theo đuôi khiến đất nước tụt hậu. (Followism causes a country to fall behind.)
Synonyms
- To ape: To imitate unintelligently.
- To follow slavishly: To obey or copy without question.
- To tailgate: To follow closely and uncritically (metaphorically).
Related Idioms
- Ăn theo: To ride on the coattails of; to benefit by associating with a trend or successful person without contributing original value.
- Nhiều hãng chỉ ăn theo thành công của iPhone. (Many companies just ride on the coattails of the iPhone's success.)