follow through

phrasal verb·1 sense·particle through

Usefulness
Registerbusinessspoken

Meanings

1

Carry an action to its proper conclusion

Why “through”? You start a task and continue until it is completely finished.

You need to follow through on your promises.
You need to carry your promises to their conclusion.
She followed through on her plan to study abroad.
She carried her plan to study abroad to its conclusion.
You start projects but never follow through.
You start projects but never carry them to their completion.

Common mistake

He didn't follow through his promise.

He didn't follow through on his promise.

Use follow through on.

Natural collocations

The word partners “follow through” most often appears with — learn the phrase, not just the verb.

follow through on a promisefail to follow through

Don't confuse with

follow throughfollow after

Follow through means finish an action properly. Follow after means come later in order.

Test yourself

You need to follow through on your promises. What does it mean?

Nearby in the meaning map

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