Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lead, follow, or get out of the way

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.80 in modern English

Syllables: lead-, -fol-low, or get out of the way
IPA

46

Scrabble Score

26

Letters

4

Syllables

13

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

One should either take initiative, help someone who is taking initiative, or avoid hindering those who are taking initiative.

Example Sentences

"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, or else remove yourself from the environment and let the group reconfigure itself so that everyone else can keep moving forward."
"I do not believe entirely in the concept of “lead, follow or get out of the way.” Every member of a nonprofit must show leadership in his or her own way."

Etymology

Often attributed to Thomas Paine or George S. Patton.

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.
Where does lead, follow, or get out of the way come from?: Often attributed to Thomas Paine or George S. Patton.

How to pronounce lead, follow, or get out of the way

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