出处：按学科分类—语言、文字 中国对外翻译出版公司《汉英成语词典》第263页（201字）
比喻沿着发现的线索，进一步追根究底以达目的，例侦察员顺藤摸瓜，终于追查出失窃军火的去向。
The investigators followed the clues and were able finally to trace where the stolen ammunition was going．