follow-through

[fol-oh-throo, -throo]

noun

1. the completion of a motion, as in the stroke of a tennis racket.

2. the portion of such a motion after the ball has been hit.

3. the act of continuing a plan, project, scheme, or the like to its completion.

follow through

verb

1. sport to complete (a stroke or shot) by continuing the movement to the end of its arc

2. (tr) to pursue (an aim) to a conclusion

noun

1. sport

   1. the act of following through

   2. the part of the stroke after the ball has been hit

2. the completion of a procedure, esp after a first action

Word History and Origins

Origin of follow through¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; noun use of verb phrase follow through

Idioms and Phrases

In sports such as tennis or golf, carry a stroke to completion after striking the ball. For example, You don't follow through on your backhand, so it goes into the net . [Late 1800s]

Carry an object, project, or intention to completion; pursue fully. For example, She followed through on her promise to reorganize the department . Also see follow up , def. 1.

Example Sentences

He has good intentions, but the follow-through is not great.

From Los Angeles Times

Bowler Gus Atkinson picked up the ball in his follow-through and his direct hit left the turning Gill short of his ground.

From BBC

A crucial opportunity came in the fifth over when Lauren Bell dropped Smriti Mandhana in her follow-through on two, and the opener looked to be anchoring the innings despite wickets tumbling around her.

From BBC

Washington Sundar, who confidently told the media on Sunday night "India will win", was sensationally held by Archer's agile swoop in his follow-through.

From BBC

Over decades, this relentless “grazing” of pledges, without consistent, effective follow-through, degraded the shared resource of trust down to bare earth.

From Salon