1870. Spectator, 15 Jan. It is safer, unkind as it may seem, to forbid the presence of a ‘follower’ in the house. A girl is less likely to get into mischief when she is walking with her friend in the street or talking with him over the area gate, than when she receives him alone in the kitchen. 1872. The Ladies, 29 June, p. 335. If you take into consideration that ‘followers’ are in most houses strictly forbidden, what wonder is it that girls are now and then caught flirting with the butcher and the baker at the area railings? Follow-me-lads, subs. phr. (common).—Curls or ribands hanging over the shoulder; cf., Fr., suivez-moi-jeune-homme = ribbons flying behind a lady’s dress. Also Followers. 1872. Spectator. ‘Follow-me-lads’ are not in themselves very pretty, though, like any other fashion, they become the Princess, and they are exceedingly costly. Follow on, subs. phr. and verb (cricket).—A team eighty runs behind the other in the first innings is obliged to follow on; i.e., to take to the wickets a second time. A run more, and it saves the follow on. 1891. Pall Mall Gazette, 5 Aug. ‘Notts. v. Surrey.’ The game, with a possible prospect of the follow-on, being saved. Follow your nose! intj. phr. (streets’).—A retort on asking the way. The full phrase is, ‘Follow your nose, and you are sure to go straight.’ 1620. Percy, Folio MSS., p. 462. He went to the sea syde, and ffollowed his nose. 1854. Notes and Queries, x., p. 66. In what collection of tales published in 1834 shall I find the tale entitled follow your nose? Foo-foo, subs. (American).—A person of no account; an insignificant idiot; a poop (q.v.). 1837. A Glance at New York (in Bartlett). Don’t know what a foo-foo is? Well, as you’re a greenhorn, I’ll enlighten you. A foo-foo, or an outsider, is a chap that can’t come the big figure. Fool, subs. (colloquial.)—A dish of gooseberries, boiled with sugar and milk. [Fr., groseilles en foule.] Also, a gull (q.v.). 1719. Durfey, Pills, etc., III., 9. ‘Praise of the Dairy Maid.’ A lady, I heard tell, Not far off did dwell, Made her husband a fool, and it pleased him quite well. 1774. Goldsmith, Retaliation. And by the same rule, Magnanimous Goldsmith’s a gooseberry fool. No Fool, subs. phr. (American colloquial).—A phrase laudatory, applied to neuter nouns. Cf., No Slouch. 1848. Jones, Sketches of Travel, p. 33. I tell you what, Charlston ain’t no fool of a city. To make a fool of, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To delude. Specifically (venery), to cuckold, or to seduce under promise of marriage. To fool about (or around), verb. phr. (American).—To dawdle; to trifle with; to be infatuated with; to hang about; to defraud. 1837. A Glance at New York. Mose—Now look a-here, Liz,—I go in for Bill Sykes, ’cause he runs wid our machine; but he musn’t come foolin’ round my gal, or I’ll give him fits.