IdiomNature
English
Englishsee which way the wind blows
Meaning: To determine what stance to take based on what others want, even though such actions or words may not be what one sincerely wants to do or say.
Example: “The senator won't commit until he sees which way the wind blows.”
Origin: Sailors and farmers watched the wind's direction before acting, and a weathervane turns to follow it. Using the idea for waiting to see how opinion is moving before committing is recorded from the 17th century.
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