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follow through

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follow through

(on something) and carry through (on something) to complete a task; to see a task through to its completion. You must follow through on the things that you start. Don't start the job if you can't follow through. Ask Sally to carry through on her project.

See also: follow

follow through (with something)

 and follow something through

to complete an activity, doing what was promised. I wish you would follow through with the project we talked about. You never follow through!

See also: follow

follow through (on something)

also follow through with something

to continue something until it is completed It was an unpopular idea, but he followed through on it anyway. I am sorry now that I didn't follow through with music lessons when I was younger.

Etymology: based on the sports meaning of follow through (to continue the movement of a swing, even after hitting a ball)

See also: follow

follow through

1. In sports such as tennis or golf, carry a stroke to completion after striking the ball. For example, You don't follow through on your backhand, so it goes into the net. [Late 1800s]

2. Carry an object, project, or intention to completion; pursue fully. For example, She followed through on her promise to reorganize the department. Also see follow up, def. 1.

See also: follow

follow through

v.

1. To complete fully something that has been planned or is in process: She passed the remaining work on to him, but he didn't follow through right away. I followed through on the report and finished it the next day.

2. Sports To complete a stroke or swing fully after hitting or releasing a ball or other object: My tennis instructor taught me how to follow through after I served the ball. When you're batting, don't forget to follow through on your swing.

See also: follow