1.
in a chain; one discovery leading to the next
Describes how pulling on one item brings a whole connected series with it — most often accomplices exposed by one arrest, or facts uncovered by one clue. Used adverbially as 芋づる式に.
Etymology
From pulling a sweet-potato vine (芋づる) and bringing up the whole cluster of potatoes attached to it.
Common collocations
- 芋づる式に逮捕する: to arrest in a chain
- 芋づる式に見つかる: to be uncovered one after another
- 芋づる式に思い出す: for one memory to pull up the next
Usage
The adverbial 芋づる式に is the normal form; it is rarely used as a plain noun. Crime reporting is its home ground, but it applies to any chain of connected discoveries, including neutral or positive ones like learning vocabulary.