Leave a trail of breadcrumbs
Meaning
To provide a series of clues or hints to guide someone, or to mark a path so you can find your way back.
Origin
This phrase takes its name from an old folk tale, most famously appearing in the Brothers Grimm's "Hansel and Gretel." In the story, young Hansel, fearing he and his sister would be abandoned in the forest, secretly drops a trail of white pebbles to mark their way home. When his parents truly leave them to fend for themselves, the pebbles guide them back to safety. Later, when Hansel tries the same tactic with breadcrumbs, the birds devour them, leading to their capture. The story powerfully illustrates the idea of leaving a clear, navigable path for oneself or others.