lead, follow, or get out of the way
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One should either take initiative, help someone who is taking initiative, or avoid hindering those who are taking initiative.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Nên либо lãnh đạo, hỗ trợ người lãnh đạo, hoặc tránh cản trở người lãnh đạo
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Whether it’s a hesitating driver or a daydreaming queue-stander, I suspect that British and American participants alike would appreciate everyone involved to either lead, follow, or get out of the way. […] And so we meet the perspective: lead, follow, or get out of the way. Do what you’re here to do
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “lead, follow, or get out of the way” mean?
One should either take initiative, help someone who is taking initiative, or avoid hindering those who are taking initiative.
Is “lead, follow, or get out of the way” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.