to obey someone► obey to do what someone in authority tells you to do: · Soldiers must always obey their commanding officer.· I knew that if I didn't obey, I would be shot.obey an order/command/instruction: · You can teach most dogs to obey simple commands.· War criminals tried to justify their actions by saying that they were only obeying orders.
► follow to do what someone tells you to do, wants you to do, or thinks you should do: follow orders/instructions: · He was a military man, and therefore used to following orders.· I have followed your instructions exactly.follow somebody's advice: · Visitors to the city should follow police advice and not resist muggers.follow somebody's orders/instructions etc to the letter (=do exactly what someone tells you): · You will not make a mistake if you follow these instructions to the letter.
► do what/as somebody says especially spoken to do what someone has advised or ordered you to do: · I did what you said and took half a pill instead of a whole one.· "Sit down and listen," Matt said. I did as he said.do as I say (=used by adults to tell children to do something): · I'm your father, and you'll do as I say.
► do as you're told especially spoken to obey someone and not do anything different - used by parents or teachers to tell children to do something: · If she doesn't do as she's told, send her to her room.
► on-message if a politician is on-message he or she is always publicly willing to support the ideas and aims of their party and to do what their leaders want them to do - used especially in newspapers: · The party leadership is desperately trying to get several senior members of the government back on-message.· Those who were firmly on-message dutifully defended the prime minister's actions to the media.
a politician who is on-message says things that are in agreement with the ideas of his or her political party, especially when it appears that he or she is not thinking enough about these ideas OPP off-message