"Following one's nose" is a colloquial expression that means to trust one's instincts or intuition to make decisions or to navigate through a situation. Some synonyms for this phrase include "going with gut feeling," "acting on instinct," "trusting intuition," "retreating to one's own counsel," "relying on internal compass," "listening to one's inner voice," "trusting inner guidance," and "instinctively choosing a direction." All these phrases imply that the individual is basing their decisions on their internal instincts rather than external influences. Following one's nose can be an effective way to make quicker decisions and navigate through uncertain times with confidence.